NACDS joins retail groups in urging super committee to pass 'e-fairness' legislation

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Wednesday that it has joined other retail industry groups and companies in signing a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the super committee, urging it to close a tax loophole to prevent harm to traditional brick-and-mortar retail businesses — including pharmacies — and to assist states in collecting $23 billion in uncollected state sales taxes that currently are due on Internet and catalog sales.



The letter called for the committee to level the playing field for “Main Street” retailers by closing a loophole that prohibits states from requiring remote sellers to collect sales and use taxes owed on purchases from out‐of‐state vendors.



“As you seek solutions to address the federal budget, any final product will undoubtedly have an impact on the states, which are likewise facing their own budget crises. Consistent with the goals of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, Congress has an opportunity to help the states resolve their own budget shortfalls by enhancing states’ rights over sales tax collection authority and in the process closing a loophole that will level the playing field for all merchants,” the groups stated in the letter to the committee.



The letter also cites several pieces of federal “E-fairness” legislation that would give states the authority to manage their state tax law while closing the loophole, including H.R. 3179, the Marketplace Equity Act and House and Senate companion bills — the Main Street Fairness Act (H.R. 2701 and S. 1452, respectively).