New portal replaces most current online services for business taxpayers; complete rollout dates announced.
sales tax
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Supreme Court: Online shoppers can be forced to pay sales tax
WASHINGTON (AP) — States will be able to force shoppers to pay sales tax when they make online purchases under a Supreme Court decision Thursday that will leave shoppers with lighter wallets but is a big win for states. More than 40 states had asked the high court to overrule two, decades-old Supreme Court decisions […]
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Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
Maine sees unexpected sales growth as shoppers pay up online
State bean counters got a surprise this year: unusually vigorous winter spending on merchandise and lodging that seems fueled by online retailers. In the first two months of 2018, sales of some merchandise and lodging grew by double digits, adding more than $4 million to the state’s sales tax coffers, compared with the same period […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Lewiston lawyer to argue second case before U.S. Supreme Court
[UPDATE:Supreme Court seems to lean toward George Isaacson’s arguments against online sales tax] LEWISTON — A local lawyer is scheduled to argue Tuesday before the U.S. Supreme Court one of the most significant state tax cases of the past quarter-century, according to state tax practitioners. George Isaacson, a senior partner of Brann & Isaacson, represents […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine leaders happy with new Amazon sales tax
PORTLAND — Buying things from Amazon is about to cost you a little bit more, and state leaders say that’s a good thing. Starting on April 1, less than two weeks from now, the world’s largest on-line retailer will start collecting Maine’s 5.5 percent sales tax. What that means for you is pretty clear, everything […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Gov. Paul LePage may seek referendum to abolish income tax
Gov. Paul LePage is still eyeing ways to accomplish his long-stated goal of eliminating Maine’s income tax. Rather than try to sway a wary Legislature, the governor is looking at a referendum question that would let voters decide whether to do away with “this unruly income tax.” LePage told Portland radio station WGAN Thursday that […]
Posted inLetters
U.S. jobs hurt by politicians
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan’s policy of reducing quotas on foreign shoemaking killed the local shoe manufacturing industry. In 2013, the sales tax was extended to include newspapers and magazines. The legislators behind that destructive act have helped kill the papermaking industry here in the U.S. Those greedy politicians should be identified by name and […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Medical marijuana sales jump in Maine
Medical marijuana sales at Maine’s eight dispensaries were up 46 percent between 2014 and 2015 to $23.6 million, according to figures released by the state Tuesday. That’s almost double sales from two years ago. Tim Smale, who with his wife owns the Remedy Compassion Center dispensary at 730 Center St. in Auburn, which has thousands […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Increased sales tax proposal draws opposition
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage is coming under fire for his attempt to raise and broaden the sales tax to help pay for his income tax cut. LePage wants to raise the sales tax — currently 5.5 percent — one percentage point and expand it to include things like legal and accounting services. Tickets […]
Posted inNew England, sj-web
Marijuana advocates object to sales tax proposal
BOSTON — As the state Senate begins debate Wednesday on a more than $36 billion state budget, medical marijuana advocates are objecting to proposed amendments they say will impose new taxes on low-income, chronically ill patients and further delay opening of state-licensed dispensaries. Matthew Allen, executive director of the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, said his […]