Amazon to start collecting sales tax from Utah buyers

State tax officials say they’ve struck an agreement with Amazon.com where the online retailer will start collecting sales tax on purchases made by Utah residents.

Utah State Tax Commission spokesman Charlie Roberts said Wednesday that the commission reached the agreement with Amazon several weeks ago and the company will start collecting Utah’s 4.7 percent sales tax on Jan. 1.

Roberts says the company has similar agreements with about two dozen other states.

Utah officials say the state loses about $200 million a year from online retailers who don’t collect sales tax from customers and forward them to the state.

Roberts did not have details about how much money Amazon’s collection may bring in but the company has been considered one of the biggest to not collect taxes from Utah shoppers.

Amazon did not return a message seeking comment.