Sales Tax For Online Purchases

The Louisiana House is set to debate a bill today that would require online companies to charge state sales tax at the point of purchase.

Monroe Representative Rosalind Jones says the state already requires shoppers to report online purchases on income tax forms, but few people do it. Jones says the state is losing out on a potential 300-million dollars a year. The Jindal administration, however, opposes the bill, viewing it as an expansion of taxes.  Governor Jindal would likely veto the measure.  He has already pledged to veto the renewal of the 4-cent cigarette tax and says he won't sign any bill that raises taxes.  Jindal says government needs to learn to live within its means and stop trying to raise taxes to cover more government spending.