BUSINESS
By JAY HANCOCK and JAY HANCOCK,jay.hancock@baltsun.com | September 3, 2008
State bean counters blame the crash in sales-tax collections on high gas prices and a weak economy. I bet there's something else going on. In January, Maryland's sales-tax rate rose by a fifth. To 6 percent. If you don't think that's compelling more people to avoid the tax by shopping on the Web or driving to "tax-free" Delaware, keep reading. Given Maryland's budget hole, raising the sales tax from 5 percent to 6 percent was probably necessary. But as much as small states such as Maryland like to steer their own destinies, forces from across the border often cause detours.
BUSINESS
By Sean Somerville and Sean Somerville,SUN STAFF | April 12, 1997
Four days after a Maryland General Assembly session that produced a first-ever income-tax cut, House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. yesterday renewed his call for a thorough examination of the state's entire tax structure.Addressing a conference in Baltimore, the Cumberland Democrat said the state's income-tax burden is the fourth-highest nationwide. He said the corporate tax burden is the fifth-lowest and the sales-tax burden is the sixth-lowest."That suggests to me it needs some rebalancing," said Taylor, a potential rival of Gov. Parris N. Glendening.
NEWS
January 13, 1999
IN A TIME of plenty, it's ironic that Maryland's governor and legislators are talking about raising taxes. Yet there is a pressing need to spend more in a key area: transportation.While Maryland's general revenue funds are flush -- mainly from fast-rising income-tax and sales-tax receipts -- the flow of gas-tax money into the transportation trust fund hasn't kept pace with road and mass-transit demands.Unless something is done quickly, Maryland won't have cash for light rail and highways and to replace the crumbling Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
NEWS
By John Fritze, The Baltimore Sun | May 6, 2013
The Senate voted Monday to allow states to assess a sales tax on purchases from Amazon.com, eBay and other online retailers in a bipartisan measure that would also reduce the increase planned for Maryland's gas tax. The bill, which passed 69-27, would resolve a long-standing complaint of brick-and-mortar business owners, who say they struggle to compete with online companies that don't charge sales tax. The legislation requires Internet sellers to...
NEWS
November 18, 2012
As the owner of a flower shop in Aberdeen, I am very concerned with new legislation currently being considered in Congress: the "Marketplace Fairness Act" and the "Marketplace Equity Act," which will add sales tax to Internet sales. This will disproportionately impact small businesses like mine - creating a significant administrative and financial burden that will make it necessary for me to pass on additional costs to my customers. In today's economy, it is irresponsible to place additional burdens on small businesses, which are the engine of our economy.
BUSINESS
By Eileen Ambrose | July 26, 2011
My colleague Jill Rosen wrote this week that retailers are pushing back-to-school shopping in July, far earlier than usual. But if you want to save sales tax - or 6 percent on certain purchases - do your back-to-school or other shopping between August 14 and the 20 th . Maryland sales tax won't be assessed on apparel and footwear that is $100 or less. Accessories will be taxed no matter what the price. Maryland's comptroller posts a list online of items eligible for the tax holiday.