if you live in California and took a vacation to Las Vegas, Nevada and bought a coffee mug for a souvenir?
Do you have to report this on your taxes?
How about if you bought a coffee mug online that was bought in a store in Las Vegas?
2 Responses
Gaytheist Buddha
17 Apr 2010
Max Hoopla
17 Apr 2010
California would want you to report the difference between Nevada sales tax and California sales tax on your state tax return. That might amount to as much as a nickel. For a coffee mug, it would probably prefer you forget it. If you bought a big ticket item in Oregon where there is no sales tax, they would be more aggressive if they found out.
No, you don’t have to report it.
If you live in California and make an on-line purchase from Amazon or similar places that don’t charge sales tax, tax law says you are supposed to report this and pay the sales/use tax on your Form 540. It is unlikely you would be caught.
I sent in about $40 for out-of-state on-line purchases made in 2009. It’s really a matter of fairness. Why should out-of-state businesses get away without paying for state needs while local businesses that give jobs to Californians end up charging sales tax to local customers?