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Does high sales tax hurt businesses?

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    Michael P. Kercheval on the growing momentum in Congress to fix our country's sales tax system

  • Duration 5:11
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So Michael Kirk -- -- the president and CEO the IC SC hello and thank you for joining us -- -- give you one big question.

Online sales thank you -- what is the deal and what should be done about it.

Where were all about.

Free enterprise and taken -- federal government out of the way.

And allowing states rights and states to determine how sales taxes are paid.

Right now states are not allowed to require online only.

Out of state retailers to collect and remit sales taxes.

And that is created -- disparity a disadvantage for local retailers.

Were all about causing a level playing field.

Advancing free enterprise competitive spirit and let the retailers whether their on line for brick and mortar compete.

Based on quality solar for the selection.

Choice and price but take the issue of whether the sales tax is.

Reported on the brick and mortar sale at the purchase price or not included when they purchase an online only price sale.

Can we go through some of the sales tax rates in some of the states which ones have the high ones which ones have the lowest ones can you go through that lets us a little bit so people watching now where -- fare.

Well.

I think that the I can refer you to our own website where we do have that information.

And I think what's really key is on a national level we estimate that about 23 billion dollars.

Is a load and not collected or paid to these states through sales taxes that are would have been -- from sales were made to online only.

Retailers by consumers.

And I think that's really big issue.

Adequate there is no differential if you well between buying something on line.

In your state and buying something offline or brick and mortar in your state it's to -- in sales tax obligation.

In your state regardless of where you buy it.

The matter is who is collecting it for the state the consumer -- it.

-- excellent points.

Yet you know and this is even become a hot button issue ink in congress so what should the federal government if anything which they do.

Well it has become a federal issue and ironically.

The federal government is a position to pass legislation to get the federal government out of the way.

There's legislation in congress right now warrant which would.

Empowered the states to require these out of state online only retailers to collect and remit the sales taxes.

That legislation is all about free enterprise it's all about getting the government out of the way.

And if we have good momentum we have bipartisan support.

Consumers are supporting it everybody who's interested in a level playing failed.

Interested in jobs and interested in making sure.

Our local small businesses thrive in the communities.

Where they retail -- we live where we work and where we play and where we pay taxes.

Right and down this also affects real estate is that correct.

Well absolutely there's really eight at triple whammy that's happening.

Build local real estate -- brick and mortar retailers.

Who are hurt by this apparent price disadvantage.

We're seeing them be devastated -- seeing many and many of them go out of business.

Bookstores shoe stores and you really see it across America.

They go out of business the jobs they had go with them when they go out of business.

That impacts the real estate where they're located whether -- -- shopping mall.

Shopping center community center -- -- -- town where these stores are located and boarded up downtown stores.

Are hurting our communities just like close stores and our shopping centers having negative impact on real estate property values across America.

This is one solution to begin to put everybody on a level playing field.

If there's a great amount -- -- -- pull up now so everyone can see kind of usually stand here in New York we pay about eight point 9%.

In state and local taxes -- seven per cent in Miami.

It's only 5% in Richmond Virginia and it's nearly 10% in Chicago but I just keep thinking of Europe who who -- her.

You -- -- that attack and it's like well into the double digits.

-- plus sometimes right.

But that's absolutely right potentially right and parenthetically this they're facing -- same issues in Europe that we're facing today about a the kind of government picking winners and losers by allowing someone to not have to collect that sales tax.

And one retailing venue over another retailing venue and we just don't think that's right the government should not be picking winners and losers.

It needs to be a fair and level playing field for everybody.

Thank you so much for your time -- for bear with us Michael Kirk about the president and CEO of the International Council of Shopping Centers were popular website.

And that's where you can see the health of many and they convenience stores and retailers across the nation.

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