Should flea market vendors be forced to pay taxes?
14.November, 2009
Lets hear it for the great state of Pennsylvania……They are working on figuring out how to tax the air we breathe! No seriously, yesterday, Department of Revenue sited 100 flea market vendors for not paying sales taxes! Can you believe that? When will this ever end.
They stated that yard sales are not taxable as there is no competition. But flea market vendors, you know the ones outside with tables selling household goods and clothing they no longer need, can be taxed. Now, we need a license to be a vendor and pay taxes to the almighty department of revenue.
You know, most vendors are just general individuals. We are not rich. Just trying to make a couple extra bucks to help our kid in college, pay our electric bill or even put gas in our vehicle. Major money is never made at these flea markets by your general vendor.
I have been a vendor a couple times, just clearing out a room when my kids moved out and had all this extra stuff I didnt need, but thought someone else might use it. Nothing on the table was over $5.00 and I never sold out. But now, unless I have a license to sell my used stuff, I am at risk to be fined, as agents sited vendors on the spot this past week.
When will this ever end folks. So, any comments on whether or not they should be taxed or not.
Yeah, I know those vendors that have those "knock off" products. I walk right past them at flea markets, because frankly, I see the same items at the same price at my local store.
I do not make a living at this at all. Just getting rid of things in my house I no longer need. When I walk around I see many other vendors just like me. Getting rid of what they dont need. Not making a living, just having a good time talking to people as they walk by and many times I give little stuffed animals to the children that are with parents that are customers. Now, I gotta get a license or get fined. The government ruines everything.
No, vendors such as you describe should not be taxed. Our liberal friends never met a tax they didn’t like. Ever seen one lowered or abolished? Me neither. Until we get rid of the tax-spend individuals in all levels of government, they will continue to steal, misspend, and tax us just as much as we will permit. We can make a difference through voting. Bottom line is, as a society, we get the government we deserve.
14.November, 2009 um 6:41 am
Consumers pay sales tax, not vendors. I know many business owners who love to collect sales tax, but don’t like to pay it. They are stealing from the REAL taxpayer – the consumer.
Tax evasion is a crime against society.
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14.November, 2009 um 6:46 am
No.
The stuff was already sold at retail once before and the sales taxes then collected.
How often do you need to tax an item?
Until the tax take exceeds the original cost of the item?
That seems a bit extreme.
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14.November, 2009 um 7:07 am
No, vendors such as you describe should not be taxed. Our liberal friends never met a tax they didn’t like. Ever seen one lowered or abolished? Me neither. Until we get rid of the tax-spend individuals in all levels of government, they will continue to steal, misspend, and tax us just as much as we will permit. We can make a difference through voting. Bottom line is, as a society, we get the government we deserve.
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14.November, 2009 um 7:43 am
U are making an income off this, thus u need to pay income taxes.There are many at flea markets that make a living at selling..$20,000+ a year..dont u think they need to pay taxes? Its not the occasional seller that ruined this for you, but those who cheated the system, thus causing you to pay to be a vendor.
Is it right? IDK, but u gotta do it.
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14.November, 2009 um 7:58 am
yes it’s a drag that individuals at flea markets are having these problems, but blame it on the ones that cause the problems. there are lots of people that do this constantly and make good money at it. you know, those booths that sell sunglasses, or watches, t shirts, or dumb little do dads from Taiwan. they buy this stuff in bulk, often overseas. they work the flea markets because of the situation. it’s cheap to set up. you can avoid taxes. there are a lot of potential customers.
there are a lot of these guys that are making more than you make working full time. a dept. of revenue agent walking through one of these flea markets can’t help but see all the money being made by this type of seller.
looks like time to go back to the yard sales.
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14.November, 2009 um 8:04 am
They cannot apply two sales taxes to one item. Used item sales should not be taxed. However, new item sales should be taxed. That’s the rules of the sales tax system.
Are you absolutely sure the people being targeted by the management had only used items?
I used to sell at a flea market for my sole income, and made good money too. They came down on several people for not having licenses to sell new products, but couldn’t do anything about used item sales. However, the establishment can be sure you have a business license if they decide, but that doesn’t have anything to do with collecting taxes. In fact, in NJ here, you can get a reseller’s license for free from the county clerk but have nothing to do with sales tax at all.
References :
http://www.fleamarketmama.com