The first bill of the new legislative session headed to the Governor’s desk would require online market facilitators to collect and remit sales tax to the state.
House Bill 276 would require online retail companies such as Amazon, online travel agencies like Airbnb and VRBO, and ride shares that collect payment on a product or service to also collect and remit sales tax to the state.
Rep. Brett Harrell (R-Snellville) sponsored the bill says it will put brick and mortar businesses on a level playing field.
The measure is expected to raise $150 million annually for the state with some estimates are as high as $750 million.
“It’s clean across the board. It treats everyone the same. If you have a taxable product or service, it is taxable under this bill. If you do not, it is not,” he tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish.
“These marketplace sellers are from all over the country and the world that sell to our Georgia consumers. They currently owe taxes on these sales, but Georgia has not had an efficient manner to collect these taxes,” says Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome) who pushed for the bill in the Senate.
He says 37 other states currently have similar laws in place.
It could take effect as soon as April 1 if Gov. Brian Kemp signs it.