The Colorado legislature and governor recently passed a terrible new tax law (HB 1193). The law saddles out-of-state online retailers and their customers with crazy patchwork of state and local taxes, plus a costly mess of red tape and stiff penalties for non-compliance. However, Colorado can only tax out-of-state companies if those companies have some kind of presence in Colorado. To avoid this unfair tax burden, Amazon.com terminated the accounts of its Colorado "Associates," i.e. the people who earn commissions by advertising Amazon products on their blogs and web sites.

Amazon warned the Colorado Democrats that this would happen... but they passed the law anyway.

Particularly in light of the sorry state of the economy, this economic blow to thousands of people across the state is particularly unwise and unjust. Personally, speaking as a long-time Colorado Amazon Affiliate, the new law meant that so much of my past work was wasted and so many future plans were derailed — all in an instant.

Right now, the left is frantically blaming Amazon. Yet Amazon is the primary victim of the law: they'll lose more revenue than any single affiliate. Amazon did not act capriciously: it was forced to defend itself by the heedless tax-and-spend Colorado legislature and governor. Once again, the statists blame business for the sins of government.

I refuse to roll over in face of this latest abuse of government power. Ari Armstrong and I are working, along with others, to repeal this "Amazon Tax." We want to put the pressure on now — and keep it on — so that its repeal will be first on the legislative agenda after the November election.

If Colorado's Amazon Tax is not repealed, similar measures will surely be tried in other states.

For more information about the "Amazon Tax," please read my post Colorado Screws Amazon and Its Affiliates, as well as Stop the 'Amazon Tax'! by Ari Armstrong.

To stay informed about the battle against the "Amazon Tax," subscribe to the low-volume e-mail list: NoAmazonTax @ GoogleGroups.

Please speak up against the "Amazon Tax"! Spread the word about this law and its effects on Colorado. Forward this message to free-market and pro-business groups, to family and friends, to co-workers. Pass out flyers (color or gray) to raise awareness at local rallies and tea parties. Blog about it; share it on FaceBook and Twitter. You can make a difference!

Further Reading

• Lawmakers mixed on Amazon ruling by Tim Hoover in the Denver Post (29 October 2010)

• Web of problems with Amazon tax by Denver Post editorial staff (29 October 2010)

• Online sales tax victory? in Denver Daily News (27 October 2010)

• Judge: Free speech protects Amazon buyers' data by Emery P. Dalesio for AP (26 October 2010)

• Texas slaps Amazon with $269M bill for uncollected sales taxes by Eric Engleman for TechFlash (22 October 2010)

• As predicted, "Amazon Tax" exploiting Colorado Supreme Court ruling enabling unconstitutional "Dirty Dozen" tax increases challenged in Federal court by CTBC Director (1 July 2010)

• Online retailers forced to lean on, rat out Colorado consumers by Peter Blake (29 April 2010)

• The 'Amazon Tax' War Escalates by Jake Grovum (26 April 2010)

• If You've Got a Porn Addiction, Watch Out by Jon Caldera (22 April 2010)

• Amazon fights demand for North Carolina customer records by Declan McCullagh (19 April 2010)

• Time to dump 'emergency' sales tax by Linn and Ari Armstrong (2 April 2010)

• Legislative Assault on Amazon Hurts Colorado Business by Linn and Ari Armstrong (19 March 2010)

• Amazon Tax Spreads to Other States by Diana Hsieh (19 March 2010)

• Words lose true meaning in legislative battle by Rick Wagner (18 March 2010)

• Amazon-Colorado Just Latest Tax Battle by Doug Tsuruoka (18 March 2010)

• Colorado Law Wipes out Amazon Associates by Mike W (18 March 2010)

• States Pressure E-Tailers to Collect Sales Tax by Geoffrey A. Fowler (18 March 2009)

• Amazon warns Connecticut lawmakers over sales tax bill by Eric Engleman (16 March 2010)

• The Amazon Tax and the Affiliates Amendment by Ari Armstrong (12 March 2009)

• Beware the Amazon by David Harsanyi (12 March 2010)

• Letter Published on the Amazon Tax by Diana Hsieh (12 March 2010)

• Colorado Democrats strangle Internet entrepreneurs by Michelle Malkin (11 March 2010)

• Tax Foundation Takes On Amazon Tax by Ari Armstrong (11 March 2010)

• Stop the 'Amazon Tax'! by Ari Armstrong (10 March 2010)

• Colorado Screws Amazon and Its Affiliates by Diana Hsieh (10 March 2010)

• Report: "Amazon Taxes" Will Worsen Budget Problems, Deter Business by The Tax Foundation (8 March 2010)

Spread the Word Flyers Against the Amazon Tax! Color Flyer / Gray Flyer

Join the Facebook cause "Repeal the Amazon Tax"

About Diana Hsieh

I'm a philosopher specializing in practical ethics. I received my Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009.

For more information about me and my various projects, visit my primary web site, DianaHsieh.com.