khrunner Loc: Aurora, CO

In your case, it sounds like Colorado is aggressively attempting to get all the sales tax they can, and that is likely to mean that you will have a similar issue with other online purchases, like perhaps from Amazon, or LL Bean. or ...!![/quote]

We already pay sales tax to LL Bean and Amazon. They have brick-and-mortor sites in Colorado. Never shopped the Mike's Camera in Boulder, but we are well-known at a couple of the Denver stores. I'm not happy about the new B&H development, but I recognize that the time is coming. The taxes won't make any difference in where I shop. It depends on the selection and the price of the item. Also, if one of Mike's employees has taken the time to let me look at the item and answered questions, I will buy from Mike's and from that salesperson so s/he gets the credit. Time = money to those folks.

patrick43 Loc: Los Lunas,NM

We lost two terrific brick and mortar camera stores in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They both attributed it to fighting a losing battle with online sellers that did not
collect sales tax. I, for one, would love to see them back and gladly pay the tax. In the past, I purchased two different SLRs from Kurt's along with various equipment.
Not being a professional and with no formal training I welcomed all there advice. When digital replaced film I also bought a Nikon point and shoot with 10X zoom. Don't recall
the exact model but my grandson has it now. If you're a pro or experienced I guess it saves you a fair amount of money not paying tax. However, pretty much every day
on this thread someone asks for advice on a purchase and often someone will recommend visiting a store and trying out different models. Unfortunately, we know longer have
that option. Whew. My apologies, this is by far my longest post ever. Felt it was important though. Patrick

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

Apparently my attempt at levity went right over your head.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I sure that everyone who buys online, and isn't charged sales tax, immediately contacts their local and state government to get the proper forms to declare and pay the outstanding tax.

tiphareth51 Loc: Somewhere near North Pole, Alaska

Unfortunately there is only one brick and mortar camera store in my home town. It's return policy is not the best in my humble opinion. Shopping on-line at B&H is a much better experience..no hassle and a great return policy!.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Agree. I have purchased almost all of my gear from a local store. Support your neighbors. They might buy from you some day. And FWIW, the same applies to big box stores such as Costco and Walmart. They don’t help your local economy; they actually destroy it.

JDawson Loc: Boise, Idaho

Oh, please!

JDawson Loc: Boise, Idaho

Am I to believe that you actually track all out-of-state taxable purchases? Are there absolutely none that you've not declared on your taxes, or are you also a "tax cheat"?

John

JDawson Loc: Boise, Idaho

Exactly! I love that people are flippantly called "tax cheats" when every single one of the people leveling that charge are likely guilty of "cheating" in probably tens, if not hundreds, of minute tax clauses.

John

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

I buy from my local camera shop only. about 10 miles from me. Great people and nice little store.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Amazon has been charging me sales tax for quite a while now.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

PA is run by Republicans who refuse to levy a shale tax on natural gas producers unlike every other state that does tax such producers. They do this even though the majority of the populace supports such a tax. The gas fracking companies threaten to throw their big bucks behind primary challengers who are opposed to a tax, so that's their excuse for not voting a tax. In the meantime, PA roads are in terrible condition and money is lacking to support many worthwhile programs.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

One of the odd little things about the US and self inflicted. In England one tax rate (20% VAT). To the outside world the US appears to be one country but its not. When an item is made and the packaging includes a price it is the base price, then you go through the checkout and the state tax is added. So wander through the shop and then mentally add the state tax to everything. What a pain. Why on earth you guys couldn't have picked the same state tax throughout the US I don't know. You could probably have dropped the state taxes by a couple of % without the overhead of running this system. Don't get me started on the medical system and each state running its own system. I was there once and needed a prescription. It was issued by a doctor somewhere in the center of a state and I decided to have it filled just over the border of the next state as I travelled. Not bloody likely ! So I went without and as it happened came right without it. Craziest system ever. Self inflicted.
We pay GST here and the NZ govt is trying to get every retailer in the rest of the world to collect the GST on its behalf and submit it to them. Their alternative is to open every package arriving into NZ and invoice the receivers (might make it hard to smuggle drugs though). This will happen to you guys eventually also.
This world is going to grind to a halt with red tape. Much easier to do away with State taxes, GST and VAT and increase the income tax rate.

Charmdragon Loc: Plymouth, Massachusetts

[quote=Jakebrake]I have been a B&H customer for many years, and the reason being laser fast free shipping and no sales tax. This past week I received a letter from them stating they had notified the state of Colorado of my purchases which amounted to slightly over 3K. Now I know we are supposed to pay the state taxes voluntarily on our purchases from out of state businesses, but I believe not many do, at least I didn't until now. Being a Canon shooter B&H priced those items at list and the savings was in taxes. So, from now on I will make my purchases from my local brick a mortar store which is Mike's Camera in Boulder, Colorado (which is 9 miles away) and not have to deal with this when I file my state taxes. No problemo, and no more waiting around for the big brown truck, but has anyone else received a letter like mine from B&H? I shudder at the though of receiving a letter from Adorama!

The answer for all is pending the Supreme Court docket on the case to overturn the 1992 Quill v. North Dakota ruling, which involved a mail-order company, deciding that retailers can be forced to collect taxes only in states where the company has a “physical presence.” Online giants like Overstock and Wayfair want the status quo, but the decision is likely to be overturned with the addition of Trump appointee Gorsuch to the bench. An estimated 35 states are in support of having the Supreme Court require all companies to collect sales tax for online sales.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Politicians want to start taxing all internet purchases. Amaazon started taxing sales tax in Florida when they opened warehouses in Florida but that’s a different subject.