California has joined the growing list of states considering simplified sales tax bills.
SB 157, introduced this week by state Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Marina del Rey, endorses the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement approved in November by the Streamlined Sales Tax Project.
Made up of representatives from 40 states, SSTP aims to simplify the thousands of local and state tax codes in order to prod direct marketers to collect sales taxes on Internet, catalog and other direct purchases. Currently, only sellers with a physical presence in the same state as the buyer are required to collect taxes.
Indiana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota introduced bills in late January based on the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, and insiders said that number could swell to 25 by the end of the year.
