posted on November 1, 2004 07:48:55 PM
I have recently moved to ARizona from Texas, for a period of time.
Being the honest, not necessarily happy about it, taxpayer that I am, I called the tax office to see what I had to do to get a tax certificate.
First off, in Texas, all I had to do was call and had a number within 10 minutes. They once charged a fee, but someone pointed out to them that they were essentially charging someone for the privilege of collecting taxes for them - so no fees. You collect and remit all taxes, city, county, etc. to the state.
I couldn't believe that I had to get a tax certificate from the city where I live and it cost $50. Then I had to go to the state office and get another which costs $12.
Since I am more or less a transient, just renting, should I move to another one of the cities in this metroplex, I will have to pay yet another fee in order to collect their taxes for them.
Now get this, they told me if I sold antiques, I would have to be fingerprinted and have a background check!!!!
posted on November 1, 2004 08:01:14 PM
Is Arizona in the U.S. Doesn't sound right to me but I haven't had a tax number for 10 years after they took it away from me because I wasn't making enough tax money even though I paid tax on everything I sold. I am just a small business person.
In Wisconsin I know there is a fee but I think it is for processing the paper work. I am not going to find out though. With everyone taking their piece of the pie I am slowly giving it up. I can make just as much in a garage sale. All the eBay sellers in the city go to the garage sales and then they can buy my junque and resell it and I can sit and enjoy the rest of my life. Money isn't everything. I have a new granddaughter and I want to enjoy her. As you said it is time to sit and smell the roses.
posted on November 1, 2004 08:40:27 PM
nnt...Don't feel bad. When I was in the trucking business, they gouged the hell out of California trucks every time we sent a truck through their state. They do the same with Texas trucks. There's no incentive for them to enter into a reciprocity agreement with us as they don't have enough interstate trucks going into Calif or Texas to make it worthwhile to retalliate. Arizona has some of the most outrageous tax and fee practices in the country. Head over the border to Needles, Calif and get a P.O. Box to conduct business out of.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on November 1, 2004 09:20:16 PM
I guess I could have kept using my Texas address, but I didn't want customers to have to wait for their payments to be forwarded.
Get this - when you call their tax offices, the recording says, 'by law, the department is not bound by my verbal advice'.??????
In Texas we have a choice of dozens of telephone companies and several energy companies. Not here.
I feel like I have fallen down a rabbit hole - but we came here to work and there is more work here than TExas right now - so--
posted on November 1, 2004 09:24:51 PM
Do like many of the other the Ebay sellers do. Just start selling and don't tell them. If they want money from you, make 'em work for it.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on November 1, 2004 10:08:21 PM
I know, but I am the one they would go after with big guns.
They are totally aware that most people who sell on Ebay do not collect taxes. I did have one secretary tell me 'Why bother?'
But then, yesterday I did sell a book to a man in Tucson and he asked if he didn't owe sales tax since we both lived in AZ. I just didn't feel right trying to explain why not. It was just that I dreaded having anything to do with government workers who get such a bang out of making people jump through hoops. But I did - and a month from now maybe I will have calmed down.
I do not have a problem with others not doing it. So don't think I am passing judgement. It is just either my overblown conscience or cowardice - not sure which.
posted on November 2, 2004 08:33:21 AM
I appreciate everyone letting me vent.
Things look a little better after a good night's sleep.
When I think about it, this is a good example of what I wholeheartedly believe in - state's rights. Every state should have the right to make it's own decisions
posted on November 3, 2004 11:09:11 AM
Of course, they are aware of it.
I guess that is one of the things that got me going. When I, dumbo that I am, went in to be 'legal', they treated me like some kind of potential criminal. I realize that seems to be a universal attitude amount government workers.
I mind paying 95% of all taxes.
I do mind collecting their taxes and I truly mind paying them for he privilege of collecting it for them.
Doesn't sound right to me but I haven't had a tax number for 10 years after they took it away from me because I wasn't making enough tax money even though I paid tax on everything I sold. I am just a small business person.