DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Sounds like you're really into your various governmental budget items! LOL!

NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State

Here in the Garden State, there are actually laws that allow for "pay to play" where a company can "openly"donate" to a political party in order to bid on public projects and services worth up to $17,500. Now I don't want to sound naive, but wouldn't you think those bids would somehow try to recover the "donation" made as part of this insane rule? This also may explain why so many NJ politicians wind up finishing their terms of office wearing orange jumpsuits (i.e. Sharpe James, mayorof Newark, Marty Barnes & Joey Torres, mayor of Paterson and the list just goes on and on). Might also explain why I'm paying nearly $13K for taxes on a 1900SF house but whose complaining?

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Yeah, but if you lie and they catch it, you get to pay the tax + fines + court costs + penalties + win a fun trip to glorious jail. It’s a lot simpler to pay the tax even tho B&H and other vendors don’t collect it up front.

Bill_de Loc: US

Just to be fair, stores don't charge sales tax, stores collect it when required and turn it over to the state.

Of course being honest I'm sure everyone does as mentioned above and submits their uncollected share with their income tax. If not, don't complain about the potholes on your streets.

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rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Oh please, you are being dramatic, and obviously have never been through a tax audit.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

And New Jersey, where they have a large warehouse.

The other issue is if your state wanted to make a big deal, they can force you to pay the tax, and interest and penalties, because the way the tax codes are usually written, it is a sales and use tax, and if they can't get the tax revenue from the seller, they will go after the buyer. In 1990, this is what happened with Quill, a mail order office supply company, and North Dakota. The case ended up before the Supreme Court, and SCOTUS ruled against ND, but it opened the door for states to try and circumvent the ruling.

https://taxify.co/2016/01/05/understanding-quill-an-important-case-for-ecommerce-businesses/

You might say "the jury is still out" on this one.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

If your a professional and live in Florida and apply for tax examption certificate in Florida you can buy tax free from your local camera store as well as any company like amazon:

http://floridarevenue.com/taxes/taxesfees/Pages/film_in_florida.aspx

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

Check out the law a little more carefully, before misleading others.

Update: If you use the purchase in production of a product your purchase could be tax exempt. But in "Your" case you need to be a "Professional" who is selling their finished product, making the majority of their income from "Film" making. Not everyone has a successful business that would qualify for this very limited Sales Tax Exemption. And income tax laws are changing on the Federal Level that could change the state and local tax landscape with relation to Sales and Income Tax.

Tax Exemptions are usually granted if you will be reselling products or incorporating those tax exempt products into your own products that you sell, but Tax Exemptions don't usually apply if you are consuming the products for personal or business uses.

The exception could be if the purchase was to be used solely in the production of a finished good for sale by a business. In manufacturing, the purchase needs to be installed as part of a production line that spits out a finished product.

With photography, you need to consult your tax accountant to find out before your purchase, if that purchase would qualify for tax exemption status.

When you're reselling products, the business collects the sales tax, and forwards the sales tax to their respective local and state governments.

Any person or business that skirts the laws when it comes to Sales Tax will eventually get caught and have to face the consequences of the past due sales tax amounts along with the interest and penalties. Is it worth the financial risks to avoid paying Sales Tax?

It's all about location, location, location.

I'm fortunate enough to live in a sales tax free state. As long as I purchase in NH, I don't pay any sales tax. If I drive into MA to purchase taxable items, I pay the sales tax on any purchases made in the store for the items that I take home with me.

But if I ask them to ship any of the items to my home, I don't pay that MA sales tax on the shipped items. It's a matter of how fast I need the items.

I have a sales rep that I prefer to use and to ensure that he receives his commission, I can call the store when he's working. I have him write up the order and ship it from the store to my home. He gets his commission and I get a legal tax free purchase.

But if you live in a state where sales tax is charged, you are responsible to pay that sales tax, either at the time of purchase, or when you file you income taxes each year. The Tax Man will catch up with you eventually.

rstipe Loc: S. Florida

Does Amazon have a warehouse in your state? If so, that's what's happening.

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

Amazon is trying to set up a warehouse in every state that charges Sales Tax.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I have found the same. That is why I order from only B&H.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

RWilson, you are correct. B&H, Adorama, and Calmeta will NOT charge sales tax outside of NY. It's one reason that I purchased my Nikon D7100 from Adorama shortly after the model was released by Nikon. I was working for Nikon at the time and, while I worked in NYC, I lived just outside of Philadelphia.
As a Nikon employee, I got a 10% employee discount on all of my purchases, but I had to pay sales tax and shipping. But, by purchasing the camera from Adorama, I got the Camera body, an extra battery (Watson which only lasted 4 months and had much less charge than the Nikon branded battery) a padded Camera and gear backpack, and a ton of okay or entry level stuff that was sort of useful or at least (since it was free) kept me from investing in it. I got all of this from Adorama (but had a similar offer from B&H but not from Calmeta which was handling fulfilment on all Nikon orders). By purchasing from Adorama, I saved the cost of sales tax and shipping which actually just about equaled the Nikon price for body only without the tax and shipping. In otherwords, the Nikon Corporate price less their 10% employee discount but plus tax and shipping was about 10% more than the price from Adorama, and B&H, which had additional items in their package. I also got the Square Trade Warranty from them... I'm not sure Adorama does Square Trade anymore but I had a really great experience with them when my wife dropped a coffee mug full of hot coffee onto a Canon point and shoot. Square Trade sent a check for the insured amount and had me ship them the destroyed camera. No hassle.
So, for me, as a Nikon employee, it made more sense to buy from Adorama. Since then, I have purchased my Nikon D610 from them. I purchased the used Nikon D7000 from KEH and got their 3 month return guarantee.

ALL are good camera providers and also give good service.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Chris Christy's beach house?

leftj Loc: Texas

It's none of the state's business if you made tax free purchases during the year. If you were supposed to pay sales tax on the purchase you would have been charged sales tax.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

...and New Jersey IIRC. But you can send the sales tax into your state yourself.

Best,
Todd Ferguson