A crucial vote in the US Senate on laws to impose sales taxes on internet retailers will take place on May 6.
The discussions over the past few weeks have caused increasingly vigorous debate. Internet retailers at present escape state sales taxes which bricks and mortar retailers and their representatives say gives them an unfair advantage.
The Marketplace Fairness Bill has passed through two votes in the Senate since Monday with the second gaining a 63-30 majority. USA Today reported that meant a swing of 13 votes would be needed in the next vote to stop the bill in its tracks.
The bill would require online retailers to collect taxes on behalf of the state to which the package is delivered. Internet firms and anti-tax lobbyists have complained the law would be too complex and too costly to implement while stores groups have applauded the move.
Sales tax rates across states vary and some states, such as California, have been more active in trying to implement controls to tax internet selling than others. Food and prescription drugs are often exempt or taxed at a lower rate.
Internet sales in the US last year were up 16 per cent to $226 billion (£146 billion), according to the Commerce Department.
Tags: The Marketplace Fairness Bill, state tax laws, the US Senate, ecommerce, internet shopping, etail, web retailing, online shopping
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