WebProNews

Amazon Ordered To Pay $119 Million In Taxes To Japan

Japan's tax authorities have ordered an affiliate of Amazon.com to pay $119 million in back taxes for unreported income earned it the country during a three year span that ended in 2005. U.S. companies that do business in Japan without branch offices are not required to file tax returns or pay taxes to the Japanese government.

Hawaii Governor Vetoes Amazon Tax Law

Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has vetoed a bill that would have required online retailers such as Amazon.com and Overstock.com to collect and pay sales tax on their affiliate programs within the state. Earlier this week both Amazon and Overstock had notified affiliates in the state that they would be ending their programs there due to the new tax requirements.

Amazon Ends Affiliate Program In Hawaii

Amazon.com is continuing with its policy to abandon its affiliates program in any state that even considers legislation that would force the online retailer to collect and pay sales tax.

Amazon Kills Affiliate Program In Rhode Island

Amazon.com has killed another affiliates program due to proposed legislation that would force the company to collect and pay sales tax in Rhode Island. The move comes less than a week after Amazon notified its affiliates in North Carolina it would be ending its program there due to similar proposed legislation.

Amazon Ends Relationship with North Carolina Affiliates

North Carolina residents who are Amazon Affiliates recently received an email telling them the company would be ending its relationships with them due to the North Carolina state legislature getting ready to, as Amazon puts it, "enact an unconstitutional tax collection scheme." What the North Carolina government is proposing would apply sales tax to purchases made through online affiliates based in NC. It has not yet passed.

Amazon Closes NC Affiliate Program, Before Vital Tax Legislation Vote

It appears as though Amazon’s email to affiliates regarding North Carolina’s pending taxes was not a bluff. I just received a follow-up email from the company saying it has decided to shut down its affiliate program in the state, as of today.

North Carolina Following New York's Lead With Affiliate Taxes

It appears that North Carolina is about to follow New York’s lead and implement a tax collection scheme that will see Amazon.com shut down its Associates affiliate program in the state. Today, all Amazon Associates in NC received this gloomy email from the online retailer:

Amazon Asks Customers To Create Ads For TV Campaign

Amazon.com is launching a new TV advertising campaign that invites its customers to create their own commercials and submit them to the company for a chance to win $20,000 in Amazon gift cards. Beginning today, customers can upload their "Your Amazon Ad Contest" submissions. Submissions are due by July 17, 2009. An Amazon judging panel will review all contest submissions and select five finalists based on:

Google To Throw Its Hat In The eBook Arena

Google’s been slowly edging its way into the book business for a good long while now. First Google Book Search, then a deal to show books still in copyright—and now they’re getting ready to take on Amazon in the eBook department.

Amazon Kindle DX to Ship Soon

Update 2: The Kindle DX will ship on June 10th, a spokesperson for Amazon tells WebProNews. "The Kindle DX is currently available for pre-order and all orders are prioritized on a first come, first served basis," they said. Update: The Kindle DX is now available for pre-order at Amazon for $489.