Point, Click, Sales Tax Later To Be Determined? (Page 3): I was a tax preparer in California for about 10 years. You are supposed to declare any out-of-state purchases on your...

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

mas24 wrote:

I got away for years without paying online taxes. So, I'm not complaining whatsoever.

I was a tax preparer in California for about 10 years. You are supposed to declare any out-of-state purchases on your California income tax return and pay the sales (use) tax on those items. You have been breaking the law for years. However, based on my experience, most people did the same thing and as far as I know nobody ever got busted for it. But when I was a preparer in California it was years ago before on-line purchasing was as big a deal as it is now.

RainierView Loc: Eatonville, WA

Also no sales tax in Alaska and Montana.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

henryp wrote:

The five states that don't have a sales tax:
Alaska.
Delaware.
Montana.
New Hampshire.
Oregon.

Yes, in California, you were suppose to put on your California Tax Form 540, the amount of sales tax you owed California. It was done on the honor system. Now, that honor system no longer applies. You can't avoid it now. Thanks for posting the five States that don't have a State Sales Tax. Interesting to know. California lives by increasing Taxes. It is the richest of all 50 States. I've been buying most of my Nikon camera equipment from B&H since 2009. I am a very satisfied customer.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

mas24 wrote:

Yes, in California, you were suppose to put on your California Tax Form 540, the amount of sales tax you owed California. It was done on the honor system. Now, that honor system no longer applies. You can't avoid it now. Thanks for posting the five States that don't have a State Sales Tax. Interesting to know. California lives by increasing Taxes. It is the richest of all 50 States. I've been buying most of my Nikon camera equipment from B&H since 2009. I am a very satisfied customer.

Maybe they will set up a sanctuary zone for those who did not pay taxes.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

henryp wrote:

The five states that don't have a sales tax:
Alaska.
Delaware.
Montana.
New Hampshire.
Oregon.

We are in the process of establishing New Hampshire as our legal residence. We are getting lists from our friends in the city who want us to order for them and ship to our house in NH. We will then have the packages insured and send it to them in the city.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

jim quist wrote:

So is your brick and mortar not going to charge you sales tax? If you buy something from them and it doesn't work the next day, do you expect them to replace it, or to tell you where to send it for warranty work? BnH will replace it. What's the reason for switching?

I think the point was that the reason for buying from B&H over a local store was to save tax, so now there is no reason not to go to the local store. I have purchased from the local pro shop despite having to pay tax. I have been able to call and get professional help from time to time as a result. I can also walk into a brick and mortar store and actually put my hands on the camera and/or lens I'm considering and give it a test.

And yes, if the equipment were to break down the next day I could return it either for cash or an exchange....up to two weeks, no questions asked. It doesn't even have to be broken, just returned with all the packaging intact.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

We have few "local" retailers around here.

SteveR wrote:

I think the point was that the reason for buying f... (show quote)

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

mas24 wrote:

I have read that at least one, possibly two, States do not have a Sales Tax. Perhaps a uhh member knows which State(s) is/are exempt.

My Wife and I moved from Louisiana two years ago, and have never looked back. She and I moved to New Hampshire, which is sales tax free, along with personal income tax. So, if you're looking for a tax haven NH is one of those few states without a sales, or income tax. The property tax is high, in our town of Bow, but there are services that you have to consider. NH does have great roads, prompt plowing, and clearing. Compared to La. a much better quality of life. As for politics, NH has 400 members in the House of Representatives (expensive to buy off that number) and about 26 Senators.

B

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

traderjohn wrote:

Maybe they will set up a sanctuary zone for those who did not pay taxes.

Unfortunately, the high taxes in California don't have a cure for poverty, and the homeless here. Everyone thought high taxes would cure everything. It did not. Governor Brown, who is out soon, would never grant sanctuary to tax evaders. Remember the Beatles song "The Tax Man." That song fits Jerry Brown to the fullest.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Not only high taxes, but high housing costs as well...

mas24 wrote:

Unfortunately, the high taxes in California don't have a cure for poverty, and the homeless here. Everyone thought high taxes would cure everything. It did not. Governor Brown, who is out soon, would never grant sanctuary to tax evaders. Remember the Beatles song "The Tax Man." That song fits Jerry Brown to the fullest.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Screamin Scott wrote:

Not only high taxes, but high housing costs as well...

You can drop in on Ct and enjoy it as well!

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Screamin Scott wrote:

We have few "local" retailers around here.

They couldn't compete with out of state businesses that didn't charge taxes. When I first came to Dallas there were a number of good local retailers including Ritz and Wolf. Ritz had a flagship store in the Highland Park Shopping Village and Wolfe had a huge store on Harry Hines Blvd while both had satellite stores. You had to look for it to find it, but every camera afficianado was able to find it. Now I drive to Arlington to go to Arlington Camera. Hopefully this ruling will boost their sales and help to keep them in business, although they always have good foot traffic whenever I've been there.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I'm in Dallas Georgia, on the outskirts of Atlanta, not Dallas Texas...We had several Wolf Camera stores but they seemed to cater to the point & shoot crowd. I knew more than most of their salespeople.

SteveR wrote:

They couldn't compete with out of state businesses that didn't charge taxes. When I first came to Dallas there were a number of good local retailers including Ritz and Wolf. Ritz had a flagship store in the Highland Park Shopping Village and Wolfe had a huge store on Harry Hines Blvd. You had to look for it to find it, but every camera afficianado was able to find it.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Screamin Scott wrote:

I'm in Dallas Georgia, on the outskirts of Atlanta, not Dallas Texas...We had several Wolf Camera stores but they seemed to cater to the point & shoot crowd. I knew more than most of their salespeople.

I know what you mean. Wolf did, however, have a large store here that had more knowledgeable staff and a wider selection of gear. The retail store were all over and were exactly that....retail stores staffed by semi-knowledgeable sales people, which means they knew more about cameras than BestBuy sales people.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

SteveR wrote:

I think the point was that the reason for buying f... (show quote)

A bigger reason for shopping at the national-market online/mail order dealers is that they have just about EVERYTHING. If you live where the nearest real "pro dealer" is 100 miles away (in Rochester NY), but it can't begin to have what the major onlines do, and all you have nearby is Target, Best Buy and Wal-Mart photo departments, you shop online.

I used to travel from upstate NY to New York City once a year or so, and tried to get into B&H just so I could put my hands on things. If I was making a major purchase, it would be worth a bus trip to do it again.