On 1 Feb 2004 19:59:17 -0600, Alberich wrote:

My home state in the Northeast is now listing a line item telling
taxpayers to list how much we owe state coffers for online purchases for
the past year. (This has been theoretically on the books for years, but
only now is this item actually being printed on the tax return forms.)
But upon further investigation on different sources online and in
print...I'm seeing that this so called requirement is ultimately
voluntary...because how are states supposed to ENFORCE such an
impossible task like PROVING we purchased items we owe them taxes for
online purchases? Another problem is...which items are taxable and which
are exempt? Another is...if outside e-commerce sites aren't required to
collect tax info on out of state purchases who purchase items on their
sites...why should taxpayers keep this information? Since there is
little or no information on just exactly how "fair" the states have come
in ensuring online sales tax collection is "fair" why should taxpayers
believe this now?

Any thoughts on this?

If, by some accident, you were caught, what kind of penalties would be
exacted for omitting the info on your tax form?