Bob_Skurka
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2003
- Messages
- 7,615
Written by BillyP: <font color="green"> Take the time to ask a CPA. Don't rely on what you read here. </font>
ABSOLUTELY THE BEST ANSWER SO FAR!
Written by CarlGlas: <font color="red">Bob, I am not aware of any state or federal statute that requires a person to report purchases where the seller has not collected a required tax. </font>
There would be no Federal statute on this, it is a 'states rights' issue. However, as someone who has testified under oath, I can assure you that there are many states that have this requirement as part of their tax code, in fact MOST states require this and failure to answer correctly constitutes tax fraud.
I can also assure you with absolute certainty that you do not have to "be aware" of a statute to have it enforced against you.
Written by CarlGlas: <font color="red">But, I can most certainly assure you that in the state of Texas a seller who, in the normal course of business is required to collect a sales tax on taxable items will get into trouble for not collecting the tax for or at least for not paying the tax to, the state comptroller. </font>
Yes, you are correct on this point. A seller required to collect tax, must collect it, or be in violation of the tax code. However, interstate sales do not require a seller, who is selling to an out of state consumer, to collect the in-state tax unless the seller has a physical presence inside the state to which the product is being shipped. If the seller meet the in state presence clause, then the tax rate that would be required to be collected would be the rate of the destination state, not the shipment state.
Written by CarlGlas: <font color="red">Regardless of the distance between the meanings of avoid and evade, it is not illegal to avoid the police, but it is illegal to evade them.</font>
It is true that it is legal to avoid the police. It is also legal to avoid taxes (see an accountant on how to do this, if it is possible, they will know). However it is also true that it is illegal to evade taxes, the reality is that evasion of taxes can, and very likely will, open up an individual for audits of their past 7 years of tax returns. Also, evasion yields a tax bill, a penalty, and back interest.
ABSOLUTELY THE BEST ANSWER SO FAR!
Written by CarlGlas: <font color="red">Bob, I am not aware of any state or federal statute that requires a person to report purchases where the seller has not collected a required tax. </font>
There would be no Federal statute on this, it is a 'states rights' issue. However, as someone who has testified under oath, I can assure you that there are many states that have this requirement as part of their tax code, in fact MOST states require this and failure to answer correctly constitutes tax fraud.
I can also assure you with absolute certainty that you do not have to "be aware" of a statute to have it enforced against you.
Written by CarlGlas: <font color="red">But, I can most certainly assure you that in the state of Texas a seller who, in the normal course of business is required to collect a sales tax on taxable items will get into trouble for not collecting the tax for or at least for not paying the tax to, the state comptroller. </font>
Yes, you are correct on this point. A seller required to collect tax, must collect it, or be in violation of the tax code. However, interstate sales do not require a seller, who is selling to an out of state consumer, to collect the in-state tax unless the seller has a physical presence inside the state to which the product is being shipped. If the seller meet the in state presence clause, then the tax rate that would be required to be collected would be the rate of the destination state, not the shipment state.
Written by CarlGlas: <font color="red">Regardless of the distance between the meanings of avoid and evade, it is not illegal to avoid the police, but it is illegal to evade them.</font>
It is true that it is legal to avoid the police. It is also legal to avoid taxes (see an accountant on how to do this, if it is possible, they will know). However it is also true that it is illegal to evade taxes, the reality is that evasion of taxes can, and very likely will, open up an individual for audits of their past 7 years of tax returns. Also, evasion yields a tax bill, a penalty, and back interest.