November 26, 2012
Today is “Cyber Monday,” the online post-Thanksgiving equivalent of “Black Friday.” While online holiday deals are a boon for consumers, Brendan Sasso of The Hill reports that some traditional retailers are unhappy about what they see as online competitors having a leg up:
A coalition of retail groups is pushing Congress to approve an online sales tax before the end of the year to ensure that this year’s “Cyber Monday” is the last one that goes untaxed.
“This should be the last holiday shopping season that Main Street businesses have to compete on a playing field that is not level,” said Alison Joseph, a spokeswoman for the Alliance for Main Street Fairness, which is made up of brick-and-mortar retailers and other supporters of the bill.
Given how much online holiday shopping continues to grow, expect this tax fight to escalate. In the meantime, to see a snapshot of how much online shopping can save consumers, check out our report “10 Ways Being Online Saves You Money.”