Lawmakers Refile Remote Transactions Parity Act, Marketplace Fairness Act

Lawmakers refiled the Remote Transactions Parity Act (HR-2193) and Senate companion the Marketplace Fairness Act Thursday in a bid to influence development of online sales tax legislation despite perceptions that progress on the issue is generally on hold amid legal challenges to state laws (see 1704130058). Both bills would allow states to collect sales taxes from companies that have no physical presence in the state. Reps. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., and John Conyers, D-Mich., led the filing of HR-2193. Lead co-sponsors are Reps. Lou Barletta, R-Pa.; Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah; David Cicilline, D-R.I.; Suzan DelBene, D-Wash.; Jackie Speier, D-Calif.; Steve Stivers, R-Ohio; and Steve Womack, R-Ark. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., led filing of MFA. Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., are co-sponsoring the bill. The National Retail Federation was among those lauding introduction of the bills. “The states know they can’t fix this on their own, but they agree with retailers that Congress has stalled for far too long,” said NRF Senior Vice President-Government Affairs David French in a news release. “Online sellers should not continue to receive an unfair price advantage.”