Online tax effort revived at last minute in Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A House committee revived a proposal Thursday forcing online retailers to collect Arkansas sales taxes, just two days after a lawmaker behind the bill declared it dead for this year’s session.
The measure advanced by the House Revenue and Taxation Committee requires companies without a physical presence in Arkansas that make more than $100,000 in annual sales or at least 200 transactions in the state to collect and remit sales taxes on those purchases.
Amazon this month began collecting Arkansas sales taxes on purchases made by state residents. The e-commerce giant recently announced it would begin collecting in every state that charges sales tax. Supporters of the measure say it’s needed to ensure other online retailers also collect the tax.
“This gives us an opportunity, as you all know, to level the playing field for our mom and pop businesses and to continue to do what’s right by the people of Arkansas and not reward out-of-state sellers,” Republican Sen. Jake Files told the committee before the vote.