Seven in ten Americans support legislation requiring sales-tax collection at the time of purchase, according to a poll of 1,016 U.S. consumers conducted for ICSC. This represents an increase of six percentage points since the poll was taken in 2013 and eleven percentage points since it was taken in 2012.
“A significant majority of Americans support federal legislation and with precious few legislative days left in 2014 it is time for Congress to make Marketplace Fairness a reality this year,” said Michael P. Kercheval, president and CEO of ICSC.
Eighty-two percent of respondents said they think collecting sales tax from online-only vendors at the time of purchase is easier, up by four percentage points since 2013 (78 percent) and seven percentage points in 2012 (75 percent). This is the only national poll that has tracked attitudes among Americans on these two issues for three consecutive years.
In addition, 56 percent said they believe that collecting sales tax from online-only vendors at the time of purchase is fairer to local retailers. Additionally, 93 percent said local retailers are vital to their communities’ health.
