If it seems as if we’ve been reading and hearing about sales taxes for online purchases for as long as the Internet has been around, that’s because it’s probably true. The Supreme Court decision that still reigns, in fact, was decided 19 years ago.

Quill dealt with mail order purchases at the time. It brought about the terms "physical presence" and "nexus" that still apply today in a dramatically different landscape. Add in interstate commerce implications, state budget shortfalls, the Main Street Fairness Act, Streamlined Sales and Use Tax project and much more and you have one confusing situation.

Chamber colleague and tax/finance expert Bill Waltz unravels some of the mystery, explaining the many components and what makes sense logically moving forward. Check out Bill’s analysis for a full understanding of an important business/government/consumer issue that requires a well thought out solution.