Chuck wrote:

On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 07:10:43 -0500, "Carol"
wrote:


A little known or much ignored fact is that if there is a sales tax in your
state you are required to pay a "use tax" on any purchases for which you
didn't pay sales tax because it was sent from out of state.


Depends on your state. In NYS, "Use Tax" refers to items you purchase
for business use (hence the term) and do not pay tax on. For my
business, this would include lumber, finishes, tools, etc. Sales tax
is subject to agreements between your home state and the state you
purchase from. Most states don't seem to have reciprocal sales tax
agreements with NYS, since most things I buy online and mailorder
aren't taxed. It is up to the vendor to collect and pay the sales
tax, not the purchaser to voluntarily pay it.

As is said, "Your mileage may vary"

In California, it's the BUYER's responsibility to report and pay the
sales tax - called a use tax - on anything acquired from outside the
state and brought into CA, whether via mail order, internet, etc.
There's an unauthenticated report that about two years ago, somebody
actually complied.

SELLERS who maintain a physical presence in the state are required to
collect the sales tax.

(Except for motor vehicles - THAT they've got a hard grip on!)

- Herb