Last week, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) filed an amendment to the National Defense bill that would have added the Marketplace Fairness Act, requiring small online retailers to collect and remit sales taxes in over 9600 jurisdictions nationwide.  eBay Inc., along with representatives from the technology and taxpayer advocate communities, publicly opposed this amendment.  Brian Bieron, Senior Director of Federal Government Relations at eBay Inc., made the following statement

“Small businesses are having greater success than ever this holiday shopping season using Internet and mobile technology to serve customers and create economic opportunity. Congress should reject Internet sales tax schemes like the Durbin-Enzi amendment that would throw a new tax barrier in front of those small businesses and their Internet success."

Fortunately the attempt to add this amendment to the National Defense bill was defeated.  eBay Inc. continues to strongly opposes any Internet sales tax amendment or legislation that does not include a robust and permanent small business exemption.  To learn more about eBay Inc.’s effort on Internet sales tax legislation and how you can get involved, please click here.