A Tax on Goods, Not on the Internet

[Commentary] Your editorial “Wednesday Is Tax-the-Internet Day” (Dec. 9) fails to recognize the significant segment of the American economy that is harmed by the unwillingness of Web merchants to collect taxes legally owed by their customers.

The proposed legislation, consideration of which has been postponed until next year, isn’t a tax on the Internet. It is collecting a tax on goods purchased over the Internet. Main Street stores collect the sales tax on goods purchased in their stores. They also build or rent buildings, provide jobs to local residents, donate to local causes, etc. They often spend time showing merchandise to customers who subsequently go home and purchase the product online to avoid paying the sales tax that the Supreme Court has opined is legally owed.

[Moore is Senate President Pro Tempore of the Massachusetts Senate]