# Is there any data on how much money states are getting from collecting internet sales tax? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-data-on-how-much-money-states-are-getting-from-collecting-internet-sales-tax/776023 "2017-01-01T03:23:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-data-on-how-much-money-states-are-getting-from-collecting-internet-sales-tax/776023/1 "2017-01-01T03:23:16Z")
I googled but can’t seem to find state internet sales tax income data. Amazon and many other portals charge me Maryland state sales tax on all purchases. How much does this mandated collection by internet sales portals amount to annually as an income for the states that have a state sales tax? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2017, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-data-on-how-much-money-states-are-getting-from-collecting-internet-sales-tax/776023/2 "2017-01-01T03:51:31Z")
I live in Montana so I don’t pay sales tax. You probably have to contact each state’s tax board to find out. I don’t see it posted anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-data-on-how-much-money-states-are-getting-from-collecting-internet-sales-tax/776023/3 "2017-01-01T17:28:02Z")
Not much; Amazon only pays taxes in states where it’s agreed to pay taxes. To even levy taxes, state and federal law generally require a “physical nexus” – a distribution center or affiliate counts – and Amazon is notorious for closing operations in states that attempt to to do so. They do have such deals in about [30 states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_tax) now (and weirdly, they pay taxes in Maryland despite the absence of legislation requiring them to do so). California tax income from Amazon for 2013-2015 was about [$1.5 billion](http://www.capradio.org/articles/2015/01/21/amazon,-california-move-past-online-sales-tax-battle). ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-data-on-how-much-money-states-are-getting-from-collecting-internet-sales-tax/776023/4 "2017-01-01T21:02:30Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > Not much; Amazon only pays taxes in states where it’s agreed to pay taxes. To even levy taxes, state and federal law generally require a “physical nexus” – a distribution center or affiliate counts – and Amazon is notorious for closing operations in states that attempt to to do so. They do have such deals in about [30 states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_tax) now (and weirdly, they pay taxes in Maryland despite the absence of legislation requiring them to do so). California tax income from Amazon for 2013-2015 was about [$1.5 billion](http://www.capradio.org/articles/2015/01/21/amazon,-california-move-past-online-sales-tax-battle). Amazon used to worry about such things. I’m not sure they do anymore. They recently opened a distribution center in the Bay Area, one of the most expensive places in the country. It must be worth it to get so close to so many profitable customers. ---
**Author:** ![barath\_s](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/90ced4/32.png) [@barath\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barath_s)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2017, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-data-on-how-much-money-states-are-getting-from-collecting-internet-sales-tax/776023/5 "2017-01-02T06:33:58Z")
“Amazon used to worry about such things. I’m not sure they do anymore.” If Amazon Go takes off, I think many states will have the required physical nexus. I’m sure they would have run metrics and projections on the topic, and would continue to do so… Re OP. : The list linked below is supposed to describe Amazon’s fulfillment and some sort centers… . It also talks about how some states have tax rates based on the origin (warehouse) , some on the destination and some on odd hybrids > **[Where are all Amazon Fulfillment Centers?](https://www.taxjar.com/blog/amazon-warehouse-locations)** > > Where are the Amazon Fulfillment Centers located? This info is key to ensuring FBA sellers are collecting and remitting sales tax correctly.