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| Steuben County Legislature Chairman Joe Hauryski |
“This will not increase the sales tax charged in Steuben,
which will remain at 8 percent,” Hauryski said. “Instead, it will level the
playing field for our small retailers who legally must pay sales tax. It will
adjust the inequality in the sales tax system and bring sizable revenues into
our county.” According to the New York State Association of Counties, a total
of $160 million in sales taxes could be collected during the first year for
counties across the state from out-of-state vendors who sell through online
retailers such as Amazon.com and Etsy. This is not a new tax, it simply applies
the same tax requirements on out-of-state vendors. For Steuben -- which draws
roughly 16 percent of its annual revenues from sales tax collections -- the
increase in online sales tax collections would help to stabilize property
taxes. The plan also adds revenues for municipalities in Steuben, which receive
a portion of sales taxes distributed to the county. Hauryski said the act also
benefits local merchants by imposing the same sales tax on out-of-state
sellers. “I strongly encourage people to buy local goods and to support local
merchants and small firms. I just as strongly support any and all efforts to
level the playing field for retailers when it comes to taxes,” he said. “I call
upon our state representatives to do all they can to ensure this important act
is passed.”
