Kuster, Pappas Introduce Legislation to Protect Granite State Businesses from Online Sales Tax
This week, Reps. Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the Stop Taxing Our Potential (STOP) Act, legislation that would overturn the 2018 Supreme Court Wayfair decision. This decision forces New Hampshire small businesses to collect online sales tax from over 10,000 jurisdictions across the country. Kuster and Pappas have been vocal opponents of efforts to impose an online sales tax on NH businesses.
"Businesses in my district and across the country rely on the Internet to reach their customer base and they should not be penalized for doing so," said Congressman Pappas. "I've met with countless businesses who sell their products online in New Hampshire, including Lupine Pet in Conway and Granite State Puzzles in Jackson. These are small businesses that make outstanding products and contribute to our economy, but like many local businesses they just do not have the time and resources to spare to navigate a burdensome tax process that will cut into their bottom line. As a small business owner, I know these concerns firsthand. That is why I am proud to co-lead this effort to propose modern, common-sense legislation to relieve small businesses of this burden. Let's give online sellers, including the hundreds of small businesses in the Granite State, the support and the certainty they need to continue to grow and prosper."
"New Hampshire businesses are ramping up for the holiday season to sell goods online all across the country. Unfortunately, the imposition of a burdensome online sales tax is hanging over their heads," said Congresswoman Kuster. "Requiring small businesses to collect an online sales tax from thousands of different tax jurisdictions will hurt growth in New Hampshire and increase red tape. I am proud to introduce this legislation with Congressman Chris Pappas, who has been a champion for Granite State businesses, and I will continue to advance efforts that will protect our economic competitiveness in New Hampshire."
Kuster joined her colleagues in March to introduce bipartisan legislation, the Online Sales Simplicity and Small Business Relief Act. The bill would exempt small businesses that generate less than $10 million in sales from collecting online sales tax, as well as ensure states cannot require remote online sellers to collect sales tax retroactively on transactions made before January 1, 2019.
Congressman Pappas was also a co-sponsor of the Online Sales Simplicity and Small Business Relief Act and spoke on the House floor, soon after taking office, to address the impact of the Wayfair decision on New Hampshire small businesses.
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