SC Retail Association welcomes SCOTUS sales tax decision
The South Carolina Retail Association (SCRA) issued the following statement from Lindsey Kueffner, executive director, regarding the ruling by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Wayfair v. South Dakota allowing states to require online retailers to collect sales tax just as South Carolina’s brick and mortar stores are required to do.
“Since the 1992 Quill decision, Main Street retailers have held a competitive disadvantage over their online competitors. These very brick and mortar retailers are the ones who employ 1 in 4
South Carolinians, pay property taxes, lease or own retail space, support their communities through charitable contributions, and help their communities recover after natural disasters.
“South Carolina has been Ground Zero for the online sales tax debate for years and the South Carolina Retail Association and its members have stood firm in our belief that regardless of where a sale occurs, a sale is a sale and that sales tax should be applied to every sale made to a South Carolina consumer. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision will allow all retailers to operate on a level playing field.
“In addition, this is also a huge boost to the states. It is estimated that South Carolina loses over
$250 million in sales tax each year to remote sales where sales tax is owed but not collected. To now be allowed to collect sales tax from online sellers will provide much needed revenue to the state.
“SCRA is pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized the global economy in which we live by overturning the Quill decision. This decision will reinstate some equity into our economy rather than continuing to reward companies with an unfair advantage as well as give the state much-needed tax revenue that is currently owed, but never collected.”