VIDEO: Kelash Says Taxing Online Sales Levels the Playing Field

Now that the Internet features so many online retailers, (DFL-Richfield) said its only fair to have those retailers collect state sales tax dollars. An amendment to require online retailers to collect sales tax was being considered Tuesday.

If the amendment was to pass, not only would it level the playing field for traditional businesses, but it would also brings in tax revenue for the state, Kelash said.

“We're not talking about taxing the businesses,” Kelash said. “We’re just asking them to collect the taxes that are due in the State of Minnesota for sales tax and level the playing field for all of our main street businesses ... It’s a matter of fairness to our retailers. It’s a matter of fairness even to our citizens ... This money that was traditionally collected in taxes prior to the invention of the Internet is still due, and that we should be collecting it.”

To see Kelash's full statement, click "play" on the video above.