CmdrFenix.org

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, MA has just moved the bar on stupidity to all new heights. I mean come on… MA is saying because you’re a MA resident, if you travel to another state you should STILL pay MA sales tax? Does that mean a MA resident who goes to CT to buy something would need to pay 5% for MA and another 6% (or whatever the current tax rate in CT is) on top of their purchase? Also, why do you think they picked on Town Fair Tire? It’s because they’re a small easy target. They’re testing the waters on a small player and you can be assured that the big boys, Best Buy et all will be their next targets if this pans out.

It also could mean millions of dollars in new tax revenue for the Commonwealth as it faces a $1.1 billion budget deficit, according to tax analysts.

Why doesn’t MA just cut legislative pay across the board? Cut fat cat perks and fat pensions for their employees and roll it over into a 401k like other businesses do? I would also love the ability to vote my own pay increases! I asked my boss, but his response was “*laugh* No”.

The NH governor has stepped into the mix and apparently a bill just flew through the senate that’ll make it illegal to turn over sales records (with some explicit exceptions) for the purposes of taxation.

“We should not allow other states to turn New Hampshire businesses into their own tax agents,” Lynch said.

There is a report of MA State Police sitting in the parking lot of NH Liquor stores and noting the license plate of any MA resident purchasing liquor in NH and then going back across the border only to be stopped. Supposedly NH state police stepped in and charged them with trespassing and impounded their cars. This was from a statement made by the NH AG at a conference yesterday that my boss attended, but I cannot find evidence in the news to back it up. I am still looking into it since this would be one hell of a piece and I will post here if I find it.

The MA governor apparently made the statement:

Duval: “It doesn’t matter if a person is from out-of-state. The laws in his or her home state prevail.”

Wait… Does that mean since NH doesn’t have a sales tax, the MA Dept of Revenue should refund any taxes I was unfairly charged? Does that mean my NH carry permit is now valid in MA? Being me, I couldn’t resist, so I’ve drafted the following letter to the MA Dept of Revenue:

To whom it may concern,

Recently it was reported by local news media in MA:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/03/state_chases_sales_taxes_in_nh/

…… that MA has begun to go after NH businesses that sell to MA residents and do not collect the mandatory 5% sales (or use) tax. While I understand this action, which is a result of your massive budget shortfall due to poor decision making on the part of the local MA gov’t, I and many others see this as just another desperate action that attempts to cover up the poor decisions your commonwealth has made, but of course this is your right. The MA governor has also recently made the statement:

Duval: “It doesn’t matter if a person is from out-of-state. The laws in his or her home state prevail.”

This got me to thinking… about NH, my state, which has no sales tax and yet I am subject to your tax every time I cross the border. As such, I am requesting the form I need to submit to your dept that’ll refund me the taxes I was unfairly charged on any purchase I give you proof of in your state. Please email me the appropriate link and I will happy to submit that at my earliest convenience.

Best Regards,

… I am going to put some finishing touches on it and will probably send it tonight. *snickers*