eBay Opposes Legislation Imposing Additional Burdens on Small Online Businesses

October 14, 2011

Tod Cohen, Vice President for Government Relations and Deputy General Counsel at eBay Inc., made the following statement upon the introduction of the ‘Marketplace Equity Act (MEA)’ by Congressman Steve Womack (R-AK) and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA):

“At a time when our economy faces continued challenges with economic growth and jobs, Congress should reject this proposal to expand Internet Sales Taxes because it will hurt entrepreneurial small business retailers and kill jobs. Better policy is proposed by Congressman Dan Lungren (R-CA), Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and 30 cosponsors that reject new Internet tax burdens on small businesses with their bipartisan resolution, H.Res. 95.

“Treating small business retailers the same as national retail businesses with physical facilities across the country is bad tax policy, is unfair, and will unbalance the playing field between giant retailers and small business retailers on the Internet. Any legislation on this issue needs to exempt small business retailers from new sales tax burdens.”