WebProNews

New York State Embraces Social Media

The New York State Office for Technology has launched Empire 2.0, a social media networking initiative with the goal of promoting government participation, increase collaboration and to improve the state's ability to share information with social media users. The Empire 2.0 strategy is a roadmap for state agencies to use Web 2.0, new media and social collaborative tools and technologies to improve communications and services while being more transparent and open.

Amazon Loses New York Tax Suit

A New York State Supreme Court Justice has dismissed Amazon.com's lawsuit challenging the law that requires some out-of-state online retailers to collect New York sales tax.New York Justice Eileen Bransten wrote in an order released today "there is no basis upon which Amazon can prevail."The judge said the New York law does not tax "any and all Internet sales," but only requires businesses to collect state and local sales taxes if the company generates $10,000 or more in revenue via affiliate networks.

Spitzer Hired To Write Financial Column For Slate

Former controversial New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who was forced to resign amid a call girl scandal, will now have a new job writing a column for Slate.com about finances and the economy.The column is called "The Best Policy," and will run every other week. In his debut column for Slate titled "Too Big Not To Fail" Spitzer takes the U.S. government to task for trying to bailout financial institutions.

Comcast Set To Sign New York Child Porn Code

Comcast said it plans to sign an agreement with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to block access to Web sites and bulletin boards that distribute child pornography.

Usenet Villified In NY Deal With ISPs

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office reached agreements with three big broadband providers to pare back access to the newsgroups on Usenet, in the name of fighting child pornography.

Overstock.com Sues New York Over Tax Law

Overstock.com has filed a lawsuit challenging New York's new tax law that requires online retailers with affiliates in New York to collect New York sales tax. The state maintains those affiliates count as a physical presence.

Overstock Dumps NY Affiliates Over Sales Tax

While Amazon plans to fight New York's new law that requires it to collect sales tax on online purchases, Overstock chose to kick out its New York affiliates to avoid that collection duty.

New York Goes Gangsta With Tax Law

Online retailers doing business in New York will be required to register with the state beginning June 1, 2008 to collect taxes, or face audits for prior quarters for failing to register.

Amazon Sues New York State Over Tax Law

Amazon.com is suing the state of New York for its recently enacted tax law that makes it mandatory for online retailers to collect sales tax on items shipped to the state.The law states that Internet retailers with affiliates in New York must collect New York sales tax because those affiliates have a physical presence in the state. The new law is estimated to generate $50 million in tax revenue for the state.

Amazon And New York's Battle On Sales Tax

For years I have been paying sales tax (VAT) on purchases I make online through services such as Clickbank. It is inconvenient but it is much easier for Clickbank to work this way then to have to monitor the location of a seller and buyer. The general rule in the US, as far as I can determine is that if you have a business presence in a state, you have to pay tax there. This applies if you own your own servers in the sate, or if you have employees.