Do you have to collect your state's sales tax on yard sales?

[Robin'sBrood]

Here in NC the governor is trying her best to make it where we have to pay state sales tax on stuff we buy via the internet from other states... like from Amazon. She needs to keep her grubby little greedy tax-happy hands off stuff NOT sold in NC!

 

[fuzziebutt]

Alabama is a red state. But I haven't heard about taxing the income from a yard sale. I'd give it away or burn it first. BUT, we were in Gallatin Tn a few weeks ago, and a city guy came around and told them to pack it up or buy a permit. In her own FRONT YARD! She was gracious and threatened to call the mayor. He didn't make her buy a permit!

 

[desertdarlene]

In my state, California, you have to have a seller's permit for garage sales and collect sales taxes if it's more than twice a year. In my city, they will probably force you to bay business taxes if you are having a lot of garage sales, too.

ETA: California has always had a law stating that you must report any use tax to the state. Basically, anything you buy out of state that you plan to use in California is subject to use tax. However, reporting it was more or less voluntary as it is difficult to enforce. So, now, they're trying to get out of state retailers to charge sales tax.

 

[Carols Clucks]

Check your states rules.

I remember having to report on sales tax at the swap meet since the 70's.

And they used to say if you had just one or two yards sales a year you did not have to report. More than that and they considered it a business and you had to report your sales and pay sales tax.

 

[Gingerlilypad]

I run a small flea market business on Friday and Saturday. I do have a business license. In Mississippi, thus far, a business that doesn't have a permanent building is not required to collect sales tax. I do claim the money on my income tax though. That being said, since most of my business is cash, how would anyone know exactly how much I make if I chose to lie? (which I don't).

Every state is different. Check with your local sales tax office to find out if you are required to collect sales tax on yard sales. Be sure you write down the first and last name of the person you speak with. That way if they give you misinformation, at least you have a name to back you up on your information.

 

[chickened]

A little reminder why our states collect taxes; General Welfare.

Liberals believe that government has a "higher" purpose than defending "selfish" individual rights. That purpose is to help those in need and thus give greater freedom to live their lives.

But charity is not defined as being generous with other peoples money. Nor does the government know how to spend money better than those who earned it. Nor can greater economic freedom for some be purchased at the expense of the freedom of others. In other words government does nothing to raise the standard of living, since government only confiscates wealth. Only "selfish" individuals produce wealth and create jobs. All federal jobs are paid by your taxes.

To claim that individuals must sacrifice some personal freedom for the benefit of all is collectivism, socialism or statism, which is contrary to the principals on which our country was founded. America was founded on the principle that every man has the right to live for his own sake so long as he does not interfere with the rights of others. Obeying this simple rule would eliminate all theft, murder, fraud and war. In short it would create a heaven on earth.

Only when force is banned from human relationships and man is allowed to live for his own sake can he feel love and respect for his fellow man. Only then is brotherhood possible on earth. But even with government interference in our lives Americans are still the most generous people on earth, voluntarily giving as much 295 billion to charity in a single year.

Americas' foundation of individual rights produced the most prosperous country on earth. The socialists' "gains" acclaimed by the liberals produced the greatest debtor nation on earth. Which has promoted the general welfare??

 

[Dunkopf]

Quote:
What are you talking about. 51% of the US citizens don't pay any taxes. That's the latest right wing talking point. You mean they actually pay taxes. Darned talkers.


Haven't heard about the fart tax. No carbon taxes either. I would like to be able to bottle the aroma though. I'm sure I could sell it. Then they could tax it.

The reason taxes are going up everywhere on a state level only (fed taxes have gone down a lot between Bush and Obama) is because of the economy. States have to survive on a set budget. The only way to do that is to collect taxes. The cost of maintaining roads and paying police officers, firefighters and teachers doesn't go down. Yet there are less people paying taxes because they don't have jobs and there is less sales tax available because so many businesses aren't in business anymore. In addition states are giving amazing breaks to big businesses to attract them to their state in the hop of getting more jobs. So they don't really have a choice unless you want to stick your fire helmet on with your gun at your side and your shovel in your truck loaded with asphalt to patch some holes.

Cigarettes should be taxed high and are an easy victim. Their only use is to kill people and they cost the tax payer millions each year in health cost same with sugared soda. They should tax corn syrup too but it's just another one of those stupid government things.

It's not that the government is too big. The problem is there are a bunch of idiots making the laws on how to spend the money that comes in.

 

[Dunkopf]

Quote:
You forgot to state that it was your perception and opinion.

 

[Dunkopf]

Quote:
The whole Ebay/Amazon tax thing is brought on by business owners within the state that are at an unfair advantage because they have to collect sales tax. They're right. They are already at a disadvantage because they have the overhead of a store front and can't buy huge lots. On top of that they have to collect a sales tax.

 

[desertdarlene]

Oh boy, I can see where this thread is going.