by 4 people |
New York State taxes threaten affiliate marketers
There is a legal wrangle going on at the moment between Amazon.com and New York State that has much wider implications for anybody who earns money from affiliate marketing anywhere.
I live in Melbourne, Australia but I see this cause problems for my internet business.
I live in Melbourne, Australia but I see this cause problems for my internet business.
So what is the problem
and how does it affect Non New Yorkers
The problem is that NY state is trying to collect state taxes on affiliate sales made by or to people living in NY.
The merchants are being heavied by NY state to alter their systems to record the sales of NY based affiliates separately and to record sales to NY.
Amazon is fighting a court battle about it at the moment, see http://affiliate-blogs.5staraffiliateprograms.com/index.php?s=New+York+tax
However smaller operations, eg Overstock and Netshops are taking the easeir option of just dropping their affiliates based in NY. I can't really blame them.
The wider problem is that if NY gets its way, other states may follow and it makes the whole affiliate marketing industry less viable.
Amazon and Linkshare will probably survive, but there are lots of smaller operations that will just give up, or be deterd from starting a program at all.
The merchants are being heavied by NY state to alter their systems to record the sales of NY based affiliates separately and to record sales to NY.
Amazon is fighting a court battle about it at the moment, see http://affiliate-blogs.5staraffiliateprograms.com/index.php?s=New+York+tax
However smaller operations, eg Overstock and Netshops are taking the easeir option of just dropping their affiliates based in NY. I can't really blame them.
The wider problem is that if NY gets its way, other states may follow and it makes the whole affiliate marketing industry less viable.
Amazon and Linkshare will probably survive, but there are lots of smaller operations that will just give up, or be deterd from starting a program at all.
What are YOU doing about this
Share your campaign ideas
Let others know of your campaign ideas or links to campaigns to support a free market in affiliate marketing.
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- Don Don Jun 14, 2008 @ 9:07 am
- I'm a New Yorker and have had to live under the rule of "crooked" and "mostly liberal" N.Y. politicians all my life. What a shame, they've turned this beautiful state into a really bad place to live. It's time to either fight these low life dirtbags or just move a different state.
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- bdawkins bdawkins Jun 3, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
- Hi Darby! I followed you from the forum! I agree with John about adding the links, they will help! This article is good cause for a stumble! Would be great to see all marketers pull together here for the greater good for all marketers, webmasters, and affiliates! Good start!
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- Darby Darby Jun 1, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
- Fredm suggests mailing and emailing congressmen with your views. This can be effective only if you take the case up media and local networks. The net is the ideal medium to run viral campaigns.
Thanks for your support JohnD. I'll be adding a module or two to broaden the info available here.
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- Fredm Fredm Jun 1, 2008 @ 10:29 am
- We here in Ny need to drown our congressmen with letters and E-mails on a daily basis. This,frankly,was not given much thought as with other government mandates. There are affiliates here who make a good living and I guess the state favors sales tax over income tax. With this bill, they will have neither. Just another rush to enact something without regard to whom it hurts
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- johndilbeck johndilbeck Jun 1, 2008 @ 7:10 am
- Hi Darby, you've made a good start with this lens. I think it would be even better if you added links to other sites and blogs that are already talking about this issue and fighting it. I live in North Carolina and I'm concerned by what I'm seeing New York doing to affiliate marketers who live in NY. Act on your dream! JD
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- Oosquid Oosquid Jun 1, 2008 @ 12:11 am
- You are right. This affects every affiliate no matter where you live, it's the thin edge of a very nasty wedge. It needs to be fought, the news needs spreading.
What can YOU do about it
Just because the matter is before the courts doesn't mean to say that you should just wait. Lot's of collateral damage has already been done.
The issue will be decided in the end via a political solution. NY State will have to make some sort settlement. Whether it is favourable to small internet marketers depends on how much political pressure can be applied.
1. Get yourself informed, it affects your livelihood, no matter where you live.
2. If you live in NY state write to your local representatives about it.
3. Write to your local press about any response you get, especially if you get none. Step 2 is Useless without step 3.
4. Inform others via your lenses, blogs and websites as well as any forums you are a member of. Urge them to take action.
5. Start by publicising this lens, star rate it, favourite it, link to it, squidcast it to your groups etc.
The issue will be decided in the end via a political solution. NY State will have to make some sort settlement. Whether it is favourable to small internet marketers depends on how much political pressure can be applied.
1. Get yourself informed, it affects your livelihood, no matter where you live.
2. If you live in NY state write to your local representatives about it.
3. Write to your local press about any response you get, especially if you get none. Step 2 is Useless without step 3.
4. Inform others via your lenses, blogs and websites as well as any forums you are a member of. Urge them to take action.
5. Start by publicising this lens, star rate it, favourite it, link to it, squidcast it to your groups etc.
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Here are some links to more information
Please share any links you have
Squidooers are asked to contribute links to any log or site which is campaigning on this issue.
We need to make this campaign viral.
Moving company New York
Mover New York serves the New York area. Whether i more...2 points
http://affiliate-blogs.5staraffiliateprograms.com/index.php?s=New York tax
5 Star Affiliates is blogging vigourosly on this i more...0 points
New York State Sales Tax Negatively Impacts NY Affiliates
The New York State legislature has included a prov more...0 points
by Darby
Darby Higgs is a web author with an interest in wine and food. His major sites are at Vinodiversity and Albarino to Zinfandel
His lenses are an explora...
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