Rep. Peter Welch
Jeff WheelMONTPELIER, Vt. -
Congressman Peter Welch says he plans on introducing legislation to force online retailers to pay state sales taxes.
In a briefing at the Vermont Statehouse Thursday, he told legislators the Main Street Fairness Act has bipartisan support in both the U.S. House and Senate. The bill would require online retailers to collect a sales tax if the customer's home state has one. Welch says he plans to introduce the bill next month.
Jeff Wheel of Advance Music says many of those who walk into his store, aren't truly his customers.
"This was the first holiday season where I saw people coming in and just blatantly-- they're taking pictures with their phone, they're looking it up on the internet and may or may not engage you in a conversation," Wheel said.
Wheel says he's competitively priced with internet products outside of taxes. He told the committee his margins are razor thin, but has even offered to eat the sales tax for clients in order to make a sale.
