By Parker Leavitt | The Arizona Republic
The Gilbert Town Council has formally cast its support behind the federal Marketplace Fairness Act, which permits all Internet retail sales to be taxed, along with several other League of Arizona Cities and Towns priorities for the upcoming legislative session.
Two weeks before representing Gilbert at the league’s annual conference in Oro Valley, Mayor John Lewis sought input from fellow council members on how to proceed with a dozen resolutions on the municipal lobbying group’s agenda.
The Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 was the only resolution to draw a split vote last week as Councilmen Jordan Ray and Jared Taylor dissented.
The bill gives states the authority to collect sales taxes on online and catalog retailers, as long as the state has taken measures to simplify its taxation system. The Arizona Legislature passed a sweeping tax simplification bill earlier this year.
The U.S. Senate passed the Marketplace Fairness Act in May, and the bill is now working its way through the House of Representatives. Arizona League officials want to push for final approval of the legislation.
