Why Not Tax the Internet?

摘要

The internet is one ofthose subjects that make normally sensible people go squishy in the brain. Witness the debate over Internet taxes. We're told not to tax the Internet, and we're not supposed to wonder why. It's obvious. The Internet is the future. Don't kill it with taxes. This skillfully sidesteps the basic question: why shouldn't the Internet be taxed like everything else ? The answer is that it should. Exempting e-commerce (items sold over the Internet) from sales taxes makes no sense. It's a disguised subsidy that favors one type of business over another and could make tax avoidance a permanent feature of the Internet society. Ideally, the Internet ought to compete with traditional stores on an equal footing. People would buy online if e- commerce offered lower prices, more choices or greater convenience. They would not buy simply to avoid taxes.