WebProNews

Shop.org has been lobbying members of the U.S. Senate on behalf of online retailers to support a permanent extension of the ban against multiple taxes on ecommerce.

The Senate Commerce Committee will consider a permanent Internet tax moratorium in an Executive Session.

"Permanently extending the Internet tax moratorium will broaden the reach of technology and help eliminate what remains of the digital divide," said Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, in a letter sent to members of the Senate Commerce Committee.

"The moratorium helps to ensure that all Americans have affordable access to the Internet and can connect with those businesses that can best serve their needs."

The moratorium, which is due to expire this November, has the support of Google. On its Public Policy Blog it reads, "We support a permanent extension of the moratorium because multiple or discriminatory taxes on Internet transactions could damage internet-based commerce, a critical and growing component of our economy."

According to The Sate of Retailing Online 2007, online sales this year are projected to increase 18 percent to $259 billion. Shop.org was founded in 1996 and became a division of the National Retail Federation in January 2001. It has 600 members including Amazon.com, MSN Shopping and eBay.