Amazon Fights Spitzer Plan To Collect Taxes

ALBANY, N.Y. — Amazon.com is fighting Governor Spitzer's plan to require out-of-state online companies to collect sales tax from shoppers in New York — the most recent cash-strapped state to propose the tax. Mr. Spitzer estimates in his budget that the state would gain $47 million by requiring Internet giants such as Amazon.com to collect state sales tax. New Yorkers are currently on an honor system to report their online spending when they file their state tax returns. The policy would apply to companies that don't have a brick-and-mortar presence in New York but have at least one person in the state who works as an online agent.

"We're not asking Amazon to do anything that any New York vendor does not already do," state Tax Commissioner Robert Megna said.