Durbin touts Main Street bill during stop in CL
CRYSTAL LAKE – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., visited two local businesses to promote a bill he introduced about a week and a half ago.
The proposed Main Street Fairness Act would require online retailers to collect both state and local sales tax of items sold whether the retailer has a physical presence in the state or not.
The tax collected would be for where the item is being shipped.
"The Main Street Fairness Act doesn't ask anyone to pay a single penny more in taxes," Durbin said. "Instead it would help governors and mayors collect taxes that are already owed."
While speaking at Player's Bench and Heisler's Bootery in the downtown area, Durbin said Main Street businesses should not be at a disadvantage against online retailers who might not collect the sales tax.
Currently retailers are required to collect sales tax only where they have a physical store. It is up to consumers to report the sales tax they owe for online purchases.
"Why should consumers face the burden of reporting all their online purchases?" Durbin said. "Main Street retailers collect sales taxes on behalf of consumers. Why shouldn't online retailers do the same."
Jim Heisler, the owner of Heisler Bootery, said he likes the proposed bill.
"It puts us on a level playing field," Heisler said.