the thing is, the tax is already being levied. And it's generally considered a tax on the customer doing the buying (who does live within that state) If the merchant is also within that state, the merchant is expected to collect the tax. If the merchant is out of state, the consumer is supposed to keep track of and pay 'use tax'
The argument here is not over if the tax should be paid or not, or even over who should pay the tax. the argument is over who should collect the tax; the states want the retailers to collect because that's likely to lead to increased compliance, and the retailers want the state to collect, 'cause that makes out of state goods look cheaper to people who plan to not report their use tax.
The argument here is not over if the tax should be paid or not, or even over who should pay the tax. the argument is over who should collect the tax; the states want the retailers to collect because that's likely to lead to increased compliance, and the retailers want the state to collect, 'cause that makes out of state goods look cheaper to people who plan to not report their use tax.