Peter wrote:

I'm amazed that so many technically sophisticated posters consider the
issue of automated software managing the sales tax calculation for
on-line business to be unworkable.

Not entirely unworkable, but not as easy as typing a few lines of code
either.

We probably all have been exposed to
essentially real time updating of huge relational databases. We're not
computing in the 1980s folks. Look how long it takes google to
accomplish a search with their custom algorithms, even for arcane
keywords. I think you over-estimate the difficulty. I suspect some
company, maybe even a start-up, could make a bundle by developing the
software accompanied by a user subscription charge for ongoing
auto-updates of the database (analogous to the auto-updates of the
signature files for our anti-virus programs).

Still is the matter of getting the tax to the States, unless they make a
clearinghouse of some sort. How is the one-man shop (or any non-giant
like Amazon) going to file quarterly returns to states he/she does not
have a sales/use tax permit in?

--

"I don't like to discriminate against terrorists based on nationality.
If you declare war on the United States and you want to kill us,
We're going to kill you first, period."

October 19, 2011 - Ali Soufan (Colbert Report)