Amazon to begin collecting Idaho sales taxes in April

Online retail giant Amazon says it will begin collecting state sales tax from Idaho shoppers starting next month.

Boise TV station KTVB reports Amazon will begin collecting the 6 percent sales tax on April 1. Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter called the change a matter of fairness in a prepared statement, saying it will help Idaho taxpayers comply with state law and create a more level playing field for brick-and-mortar retailers.

All online sales are already legally subject to sales tax in Idaho, but the state doesn’t have a simple way to collect from out-of-state sellers. That means consumers typically have to self-report and pay the taxes on their own. State officials have long suspected many people don’t self-report.

Amazon already collects state sales taxes from all but a handful of states.

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Information from: KTVB-TV, http://www.ktvb.com/