Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) has signed on as an original cosponsor of H.R. 684, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013.

States are permitted to impose a sales tax on products that are sold in the state. Under current law, companies and corporations are not required to pay a state sales tax if they do not have a physical presence in the state or if they sell their goods over the internet but do not have a physical presence in the state. States are unable to collect taxes on these companies, thereby withholding a significant source of tax revenue at a time when many states are facing budgetary shortfalls. In addition, physical retailers that are not online are suffering from the effects.

This bill would allow state governments to enforce their own existing sales tax laws and collect taxes from out-of-state, online-only retailers. This bill would level the playing field between online retailers and retail businesses that have a physical presence in a state. Moreover, the bill would bring in much needed sales tax revenue to states.

To read more about H.R. 684, click here.