Last week, the Michigan Senate passed legislation 21-16 that requires online retailers to charge Michigan's sales tax on Internet purchases from residents in the state. Under current law, online retailers only have to charge the tax if they have a physical presence in the state, like a storefront. However, the legislation changes current law by clarifying that physical presence in Michigan also includes things like warehouses, storage spaces, or contracting with installers or repair personnel.

On Thursday, December 11^th, the House of Representatives passed a government spending bill prior to departing for the holiday season. Included in the spending bill was a short term extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA), a very important measure that prevents state and local governments from imposing new taxes on Internet access and prohibits any multiple or discriminatory taxes on e-commerce.

In a recent Politico article, Senator Wyden (D-OR), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, announced that the current government spending bill did include an extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act. Expiring on December 11th, ITFA would make permanent the law that prevents state and local governments from imposing new taxes on Internet access and prohibits any multiple or discriminatory taxes on e-commerce.

Pictured are members of the eBay Inc. Government Relations team, along with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, San Jose City Council Members, and other recognized companies.

On December 9, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and the City Council presented commendations to eBay, PayPal and other technology companies acknowledging their innovation and commitment to the community.

In a blog post last week, Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) President Tom Giovanetti called on Congress to reject attempts to attach the Senate passed Marketplace Fairness Act (MFA) to the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA). Over the past several months, Senate leadership has indicated their desire to marry the two pieces of legislation in the final weeks of Congress. However, opponents of the MFA believe that combining the two bills would be ba