Anaheim, Calif.—The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) has endorsed and is in full support of Senate Bill 1452, The Main Street Fairness Act introduced by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and its identical companion legislation introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen John Conyers (D-MI) and Peter Welch (D-VT).
The Main Street Fairness Act addresses a fundamental unfairness that allows out-of-state Internet and mail order companies to avoid collecting and remitting state and local sales taxes while local brick and mortar stores are obligated to collect these taxes. The Main Street Fairness Act would create a program that would require Internet and mail order sellers to collect and remit sales taxes to states that elect to participate in the federal program.
The WFCA’s endorsement came after a unanimous vote by the organization’s Executive Committee. “This legislation is long overdue and aptly named,” said Jim Walters, Chairman of the Board, WFCA and president of Macco’s Floor Covering, Green Bay, WI. “In some states Internet sellers enjoy as much as a 10% price advantage over local brick and mortar retailers who are mandated by law to collect and remit sales tax to local and state governments. This legislation would make the playing field a little more level,” he concluded.
The WFCA views the legislation as helping small business interests. “This bill is crafted in such a way that it is not anti-Internet based companies, but does seek to address the fundamental unfairness in the marketplace as Internet commerce takes an ever increasing slice of the retail pie,” said Chris Davis, president & CEO, WFCA. “This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It impacts all Americans. And it’s not a new tax. It’s one every purchaser is supposed to pay, but isn’t. The WFCA is joining coalitions to support this legislation and we are going to encourage everyone we can to back these bills and write their representatives in Washington to urge them to support their passage.”
For more information about the WFCA, visit wfca.org and wfca-pro.org.