WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Proponents of a federal bill called the Marketplace Fairness Act say it would even the playing field for brick and mortar businesses in Indiana and throughout the country. Those stores face increasing competition from internet businesses like Amazon.com, and for years there have been complaints that online stores don’t pay sales tax. The Act would require all internet businesses to pay sales tax, and it passed the U.S. Senate last week. The issue was debated across the state last year after Amazon announced it would build a new facility in Noblesville, prompting some groups to ask why the business wouldn’t have to pay the same taxes as others in the state. But while some say the bill would help brick and mortar stores, others say its written in a way that could hurt smaller online businesses. Assistant News Director Joe Crawford has that story for today’s WFHB feature exclusive.
