State Online Sales Tax Uncertainties Carve Out Space for Congress

Congress should issue nationwide guidelines for state taxation of remote sales following the South Dakota v. Wayfair ruling, the US Government Accountability Office said Monday.

Some states and cooperative organizations have pursued ways to condense and streamline sales tax payments, but multistate complexity remains the rule for sellers. A new GAO report recommends that Congress consider working with states to set “national parameters” for state taxation of remote sales. The standardized guidelines should balance state interests and help address “existing uncertainties” regarding the scope of taxes in states and localities, according to the analysis.

The federal oversight agency’s report ...