Retailers React to Passage of Mobile Workforce Legislation

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement in response to the passage of the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2015 today in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation provides employers and employees with a streamlined nationwide process for complying with and paying nonresident state income taxes. The legislation’s approach to addressing the patchwork of state income tax laws is consistent with legislation that retailers have pursued to address states’ inability to compel out of state businesses to collect and remit the sales tax due on purchases made.  

"While retailers applaud the passage of this legislation to simplify compliance for businesses and employees, Congress is missing an opportunity to also address the disadvantage that Main Street merchants face as it relates to sales tax collection,” said Jennifer Safavian, executive vice president for government affairs. “Much in the way that this legislation addresses income tax collection, federal E-Fairness legislation would provide a standard framework for sales tax collection instead of the patchwork of state laws that exists today. We will continue to press lawmakers in both sides of the Capitol to end preferential treatment that online retailers receive from the federal government."  

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RILA is the trade association of the world's largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.