Readers' forum: Utah's 'use tax'

Published: Saturday, Dec. 24 2011 12:00 a.m. MST

Summary

Concerning Jim Dublinski's letter "Collect online sales tax" (readers' forum Dec

Concerning Jim Dublinski's letter "Collect online sales tax" (readers' forum Dec. 22), there is no need for Congress to pass a tax law for online sales, at least for Utah. Utah is way ahead of the game. We have the "use tax" on the books, which would take care of taxing anything purchased online from outside the state. The problem is it is a very unfair tax and is virtually unenforceable. Visiting with a tax preparer, it was estimated that less than 10 percent pay the use tax. The Legislature should take a hard look at it and either enforce it, make it a fair tax, or get rid of it, preferably the latter.

Reid Shelley

American Fork

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Mike Richards

South Jordan, Utah

The first thing we need is accountability from the government.

Go online and try to find how Utah State Sales Tax is spent. You might be able to find a site that has the details, but I couldn't find it. A poster on another day said the More..

12:22 p.m. Dec. 24, 2011
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Esquire

Springville, UT

Reid, the use tax was intended to pick up revenue for lost sales taxes. You beg the question on the whole issue. If you want the revenue, enable sales tax on Internet sales. If you want a level playing field, enable the sales tax. But in the More..

7:33 a.m. Dec. 24, 2011
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lost in DC

West Jordan, UT

I had a tax professional tell me the use tax is unconstitutional because it interferes with interstate commerce, which is properly a federal affair

9:00 a.m. Dec. 24, 2011
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