[lbo-talk] Dean Baker on how Amazon's tax subsidy > its profit

[Miles Jackson]

Michael Pollak wrote:
> http://www.alternet.org/story/66429/
>
> Amazon's Success: Tax Avoidance, Rather Than Savvy Entrepreneurial Spirit
>
> By Dean Baker, TruthOut.org
> Posted on October 30, 2007, Printed on November 1, 2007
>
> <snip>
>
>     The point here is simple: if someone goes to their neighborhood book
>     store, clothes store, toy store, or even Wal-Mart (Amazon sells just
>     about everything these days), they generally have to pay sales tax
>     on whatever they buy. In some states, the sales tax can be higher
>     than 8 percent, costing a family $16 or more on a $200 purchase
>
>     But not at Amazon: operating in the 21st century Internet, Amazon
>     shoppers can purchase their products without paying state sales tax
>     ....
>
>     
Huh?  I recently moved to Washington State, and state sales tax was 
included in my Amazon order last week (a MP3 player for my daughter's 
birthday).  Does it work differently in different states?

Miles