eBay CEO touts threat of Amazon as Senate weighs online sales tax legislation

taxes3

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a bill this week which could make it easier for states to collect sales tax from purchases made online, whether the online retailer has a physical retail presence in the state or not. The measure is expected to pave the way to a more cohesive sales tax collection… Read More…

No more free lunch? IRS considering taxes on free food at tech giants

google-cookies111

Free food is almost synonymous these days with technology companies, the fuel that helps HR recruiters attract and retain employees. In Kirkland, Google hired world-renowned chef Jason Wilson to run the kitchen, while Seattle startup Has Offers last year brought on board chef Chris Blanco to keep the geeks well fed and hydrated. But could the… Read More…

Why these proposed advertising taxes in Ohio and Minnesota are a dangerous bet

ad

With many states depending on sales tax for revenue, it’s only natural that they want to focus on ways to help in-state businesses increase sales. So the recent moves by Governor Mark Dayton (D) of Minnesota and Governor John Kasich (R) of Ohio can only be described as perplexing. Both governors proposed expanding their state’s… Read More…

Why Amazon and other retailers are supporting this national sales tax legislation

taxes3

Bipartisanship is a rare beast in Washington D.C.  these days, especially when it comes to new taxes. So when 35 house members and 18 senators introduce new tax legislation, it’s worth taking notice. Dubbed the Marketplace Fairness Act, the bill seeks to essentially create a nationwide sales tax for online retailers. The goal being to… Read More…

Shares of Blucora soar as revenue grows 46 percent

blucora44

Blucora, the Bellevue search and tax preparation company formerly known as InfoSpace, today reported a 46 percent in revenue for the fourth quarter. Shares jumped more than 10 percent in after hours trading. It now has a market value of more than $600 million. Revenue for the quarter was $97 million, with net income of… Read More…

New bill looks to curb B&O taxes for startups in Washington state

taxes3

Washington state residents don’t pay an income tax, one of the reasons why some companies have found the area an attractive place to invest and expand. But go anywhere in startup circles in the state and you’ll hear the story of the dreaded B&O tax. The business and occupation tax — which is taken out of gross… Read More…

Citing favorable tax rates, Flowroute moves HQ to Seattle from California

flowroute11

Flowroute, which provides wholesale voice-over-Internet services to businesses, has moved its headquarters from Southern California to Seattle. The company cited Seattle’s favorable tax rates and low cost of living as reasons for the move, as well as the general “vibe” of the city, close to hiking and biking trails. Washington state is one of the… Read More…

Avalara buys Tax Technology Services

avalara

Fast-growing Avalara is making another buy, purchasing Tax Technology Services for an undisclosed price. Avalara said in a release that the deal will extend its leadership in the area of sales tax exemption certificate management. Tax Technology Services is the maker of CertCapture, a service that acquires and maintains resale certificates, W-9s, excise tax, and other… Read More…

Welcome to Washington: The best place in the U.S. to be rich (and the worst to be poor)

tax-was1

Washington state is a great place to live if you’re wealthy. But the state’s tax system — which does not have an income tax and is heavily reliant on sales taxes — isn’t too sweet if you’re poor. That’s the conclusion of a new report issued this week by the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy,… Read More…

Amazon adding 3 new distribution centers in Texas after tax truce

amazon-full

Amazon continues to grow and today announced plans to build three new fulfillment centers in Texas, creating more than 1,000 new jobs in the Lone Star State. Last week Amazon also announced plans to open a new 1-million square-foot fulfillment center in outside of San Francisco in Tracy, California. Interesting to note that these new centers are… Read More…