Bottom Line: Scott Angelle never urged taxing internet sales
I thought you’d appreciate this bit of information that was left out of the ad currently being run by the Fund for Louisiana’s Future. The ad alleges that Scott Angelle “wants to tax the internet.” The truth is, in Louisiana, the law taxing catalog sales has been on the books for decades.
"If you purchased goods from out-of-state companies and were not properly charged Louisiana state sales tax, you are required to file and pay the tax directly to the Louisiana Department of Revenue. This can include purchases from: catalogs, television, internet, outside the U.S., and another state (and used in Louisiana). This law ensures that Louisiana businesses are not at a competitive disadvantage with out-of-state companies who are not required to collect Louisiana sales tax.”
(Source: LA Dept. Revenue)
The ad falsely attacks Scott. Scott has never urged the passage of an internet tax. He, along with Sen. Vitter, has supported a streamlined collection of the sales tax that is already on the books for companies doing business in Louisiana but that are based in other states.
His position is identical to that of Sen. Vitter who at the Louisiana Municipal Association forum on July 31, 2015 said:
"I think sales tax on internet sales is coming, it's inevitable. It passed the Senate, I voted against the particular bill because I thought the small business tax exemption needs to be higher for very small businesses, but it’s passed the Senate and I think it will pass the house before long. We need to be properly prepared for that with state based sales tax collection, consolidated sales tax collection. I’ll lead the effort on that with your help and that absolutely has to guarantee immediate remittance of local revenue to local government that has to be immediate. We certainly cannot depend on an appropriation process or any other passage of bills in Baton Rouge and today with modern technology there is absolutely no reason that it cannot be immediate. It can be it has to be to guarantee you get that local revenue immediately.”
Here’s the bottom line: Scott Angelle never urged taxing internet sales, because it’s been the law on the books for decades. Scott and David both called for a streamlined method to collect taxes currently already on the books and return the revenues to local governments. Sen. Vitter did not oppose or call to repeal the tax, but rather seems eager to collect it.
Scott has frequently said that he believes we need more people paying fewer taxes, not fewer people paying more taxes. He believes we need new taxpayers, not new taxes.
#LAGOV
