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Michigan losing $242 million on untaxed online sales

(Associated Press)- Michigan's treasury department says the state will lose about $242-million in tax revenue next year from online retailers like Amazon.

States have trouble collecting sales taxes from sellers that lack a physical presence within their borders.

The ‘Detroit Free Press’ reports that job listings suggest Amazon is planning a software development center in Detroit.

That physical presence would give Michigan greater ability to collect sales taxes on Amazon sales to Michigan residents.

Amazon owns grand-haven-based audio book publisher brilliance audio, but treasury spokesman Terry Stanton says Michigan considers it a separate entity.
           

Amazon collects sales taxes for sales to residents of Kentucky, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Washington.
           

Laws requiring the collection of online sales taxes will take effect in California, Indiana, Nevada and New Jersey

Hans Ahlström is the host of several programs including the daily musical variety show Weekday, the mostly straight ahead jazz show Night Studio, the self explanatory Blues Today, and the eclectic Sound Spectrum. You can also hear Hans as the local host of NPR's All Things Considered news magazine. He also helps manage Public Radio 90's web content, interviews local and visiting writers and artists, works with NMU student interns, and writes the occasional news story.