Trump accuses Amazon of hurting 'tax paying retailers'

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico




By LOUIS NELSON 08/16/2017 06:50 AM EDT

President Donald Trump lashed out again Wednesday morning at the online retailer Amazon, accusing it of harming “tax paying retailers” and stripping jobs away from towns and cities across the country.

“Amazon is doing great damage to tax paying retailers. Towns, cities and states throughout the U.S. are being hurt - many jobs being lost!” the president wrote online just after 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Trump did not specifically accuse Amazon of any particular crime or tactic in his Wednesday morning post to Twitter, but he has in the past accused the retailer of reaping a competitive edge by not paying enough in taxes.

The president’s tax-related allegations against Amazon are unclear, since the company has been collecting sales tax in each state that has one since the beginning of April. A 1992 Supreme Court ruling generally bars states from collecting sales tax from companies that do not have a physical presence in the state.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/16/trump-tweet-amazon-hurts-retailers-241685

[DetlefK]

1. And what's Shortfinger gonna do about it? Close tax-loopholes?

[Iliyah]

2. Mr. smallfeet - nothing

[Freethinker65]

3. Tantrum over the Washington Post. Pathetic toddler

[Lucky Luciano]

6. That is what I was about to say. nt

[Deb]

4. And when is the last time he shopped in a Sears store?

Or any large retail store? Typical GOP hypocrite.

[procon]

5. But... but Trump just said he waits to get the facts before regurgitating

the crappy stuff he finds on the Internet. Like everyone else, I pay taxes when I order from Amazon, so Trump is lying, again. This probably has more to do with Trump's ongoing feud with The Washington Post newspaper which is owned by Jeff Bezos, who also owns Amazon.com.

[groundloop]

17. I was just kind of guessing that maybe Amazon refused to carry Ivanka's shit merchandise

Clearly though, if 45* is bitching about Amazon it's because he's using his position as current occupant of the White House to air a personal gripe.

[pnwmom]

20. I think it's because Amazon's Jeff Bezos also owns the WA Post. n/t

[mahatmakanejeeves]

23. Got it. "Trump launches another Twitter tirade against Amazon and Bezos-owned Washington Post"

Trump launches another Twitter tirade against Amazon and Bezos-owned Washington Post

BY JOHN COOK on July 24, 2017 at 8:12 pm

The President of the United States is attacking Amazon again.

Donald Trump this evening issued a series of Tweets, calling out the “Amazon Washington Post.” The Tweets appeared to be in reaction to a story the newspaper ran titled “Cooperation with Russia becomes central to Trump strategy in Syria.”

Update: Politico Media reports that Tucker Carlson of Fox News talked Monday night about a July 19 Washington Post story, which appears to be what prompted Trump’s tweets.

Amazon does not own The Washington Post. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos purchased the newspaper in 2013 for $250 million.

Here is the series of Tweets that President Trump issued.

{snip}

[forgotmylogin]

7. Trump doesn't read anyway.

Amazon is charging sales tax in every state they have a physical distrubution center (I guess?) in. They've done something in MO, because I am now paying sales tax on Amazon purchases.

They are doing this legally per the tax code. That makes them smart in the President's glossary.

[Cryptoad]

8. Breaking News:

GOP abandons Free Market!

[obamanut2012]

9. I pay taxes on all my Amazon purchases

wtf

[Bengus81]

11. So do I,they have a center here in Kansas........

So not only do they get Kansas sales tax out of me they also get shipping which fuels the transportation industry.

[obamanut2012]

22. yup

[JaneQPublic]

16. I pay taxes here in Maryland on Amazon orders.

Not on every item, but a significant amount.

[Bengus81]

10. Pfffttt....Hey Trump... WALMART someone you stand up for?

Those assholes have made a full frontal assault over the last 20 years to move into small towns and cities and DRIVE out all other retailers. Then,if their sales don't skyrocket year after year the shutter they place and blow town litterly overnight leaving a small town without anything resembling a variety or retail stores.

Get a clue Cheeto............

[edhopper]

15. Yes, this

[MrsCoffee]

12. More projection.

[dalton99a]

13. Yep.

[dalton99a]

14. Where are your tax returns, filthy Nazi asshole?

[Bengus81]

18. Trump...HUGE tax SCOFLAW accusing Amazon of "not paying enough taxes"

[ProfessorGAC]

19. More Of The Same

This is just as dumb as bringing back coal. The world has technologically moved to a point where there's no putting that genie back in the bottle.

The lack of taxes (if true) have nothing to with the business model of Amazon nor does it create an iota of incentive for buyers to shop with them.

If i'm a buyer and getting something on line through them is more convenient, my not having to pay sales tax (and illinois we do), doesn't influence my buying decision at all. And, it doesn't influence them to operate on that business model. More than likely, even less so, as they pass any taxes on to the buyer anyway. Absolutely zero advantage to them

This is just empty rhetoric about bringing back the "good old days" in business arenas where the train has left the station.

[geek tragedy]

25. it's dumber than that, collecting/paying sales tax is a PITA for merchants

that requires time, money on the compliance end.

It's a classic barrier to entry for firms seeking to enter the market in order to compete with the monopolist.

[pnwmom]

21. He's attacking Amazon because Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post. n/t

[geek tragedy]

24. amazon wants internet purchases to be taxed.

that would create a much bigger burden--from a compliance perspective--on smaller companies that would try to compete.

it would create a barrier to entry, and that's one thing monopolists all love

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

27. Internet purchases are taxed. Amazon collects state sales taxes

which it is required by law to do.

[geek tragedy]

30. Amazon wants every Internet merchant to be forced to do exactly what

Amazon does. So Trump is playing right into their hands.

When you're a huge company, getting taxpayer IDs from all 50 states etc is no big deal.

For other companies, it's a giant barrier to entry.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. You have to pay sales taxes on Amazon purchases

just as if you bought those things in a brick-and-mortar store. And I'm sure Amazon pays its own taxes. There is an argument that Amazon is hurting some businesses because of the convenience of on-line buying, but it has nothing to do with taxes. The real reason SCROTUS has a bug up his butt about Amazon is because its owner, Jeff Bezos, also owns the Washington Post.

[CatMor]

28. I assume trump is talking about sales tax

Amazon collects sales tax on my purchases and I am the one paying the tax, not Amazon. Is trump really that stupid.

[The_Casual_Observer]

29. Another bullshit daily misdirection courtesy of shitler.

[IronLionZion]

31. All types of small companies sell their products on Amazon marketplace

there are women knitting pussy hats and selling it there alongside artisan soaps and other stuff.

I hate going to the mall and wasting all day and might not even find what I was looking for. Online retailing is better in many ways. Sure it screws many brick and mortar shops but it also provides an opportunity for many small sellers to reach a geographically wider audience.

[Initech]

32. Like the GOP suddenly gives a shit about taxes. DIVERSION!

[dembotoz]

33. Online HAS HURT brick and mortar....that is true but like coal....not going back

i actually only shop online when my options are limited.

[Luciferous]

34. I pay taxes on my Amazon purchases. He just hates Bezos and wants to whine about something...

[xor]

35. This has nothing to do with taxes.

Besides, wasn't amazon paying sales tax in pretty much every state even before April?

[Raine]

36. Amazon has hurt lots of businesses and soon will be hurting markets

too with their online food ordering & deliveries. I know though I sure pay the sale taxes on anything I order from them and have been for a few years now, as usual he doesn't know what he's tweeting about!