The tax system in the United States (and most countries) is broken. Organizations like OccupyWallStreet and their predecessors have been pointing to the corruption of banks, politicians, and rich individuals as a driving force for the financial inequality that exists everywhere. Most tech companies have gone relatively-unscathed for their own practices, but in a world where virtual goods rake in billions in profits for some, should the spotlight be pointed on them as well? [caption id=”" align=”alignright” width=”300″ caption=”"Biggest Little City in the World" arch on…

Seven states are currently taxing out-of-state online retailers. The practice, called the “Affiliate Taxes” or “Amazon Taxes”, are spreading rapidly as the catalog loophole that has protected them for years is being re-evaluated. What does this mean from one state to the next? Which states are doing it, which states are considering it, and which states are safe. Perhaps most importantly, what does all of this mean for the future of online retailers? These and other questions are discussed in this infographic by our tax-talented friends at Intuit. Click to enlarge. …

Regardless of which side of the debate you’re on, one thing is clear: Jeff Bezos and Amazon are fighting with everything they’ve got to keep states from imposing sales taxes on affiliate sales. In March, we reported the cutoff notices sent by Amazon to many affiliates in certain states.  The fight continues and Bezos is going on the offensive, appealing to Washington to step in and protect them. “We will continue to drop states who pass those affiliate laws, from the affiliate program,” CEO Jeff Bezos said at the ShopSmart Summit in New York in May. “In the U.S., the Constitution prohibits states…

The phrase “file your taxes” is quickly becoming obsolete. Technology is becoming the driving force behind the yearly process that once required calculators, pens, and a guide book. The sale of stamps is even down during tax season (a funny thing since tax return envelopes do not require stamps). Chances are, nearly all of the US readers of this blog have e-filed taxes before. The convenience is clear, but it also represents other advantages: Accuracy – most mistakes on tax returns happens through manual calculations rather than through e-filing. Speed – no question about it – e-filing is much…