Hopeful News in Online Fairness in Indiana!

By Una Winterman, Director, Local First Indiana

Simon Property Group, the nation’s largest mall operator, is suing the Indiana Department of Revenue to try and force it to collect taxes from Amazon.com Inc. for all sales made in the state.  Simon Property Group is not seeking monetary damages, but rather is suing on behalf of itself and all other brick and mortar businesses in Indiana who are competing for customers with Amazon.

Undoubtedly, Indiana legislators thought that they were creating a business friendly atmosphere when they offered Amazon a tax break for moving here, but this unfair advantage is not working out for any other businesses in Indiana who sell the same items as Amazon.  Apparently, legislators are coming to their senses, as they have been studying this issue in the Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy, and though they have yet to make a formal recommendation, are expected to release a proposal to require sales tax collection during the 2012 session.  No doubt that Simon Property Group will help them to remember the 547,000 retail jobs across the state that are in jeapordy, awaiting their final determination.