ICSC Announces Launch of New Website for Sales Tax Fairness

www.21stcenturyretail.org to serve as a hub of information and resources for an industry-wide effort to close the online sales tax loophole

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) today announced the launch of its new website, www.21stcenturyretail.org.  The website is designed to serve as a hub of information about sales tax fairness and how the current sales tax system is unable to support the 21st Century retail marketplace. It will be continuously updated to provide the public, stakeholders, the media and lawmakers with information on the online sales tax loophole and resources to help level the playing field for all retailers.

"In order for competition to be fair, viable and in the true spirit of American enterprise, it must be on a level playing field.  Online retailers have been given a free pass for far too long at the expense of their brick-and-mortar counterparts," said Betsy Laird, ICSC senior vice president of global public policy.  "ICSC is among the many voices calling on Congress to close the online sales tax loophole.  We launched www.21stcenturyretail.org to reflect the broad-based and diverse support for sales tax fairness legislation, and to mobilize the growing coalition of supporters at the grassroots level."

In addition to information about the current legislative push for sales tax fairness, a blog, reference material for the media and state-specific information, the website features video testimonials by local retailers from across the country who have been negatively impacted by the online sales tax loophole. Visitors will also have the opportunity to register for regular updates about new content, announcements, and the effort to promote sales tax fairness.

"In recent months, large online retailers have demonstrated how determined they are to maintain the status quo: a lopsided and unfair marketplace that hurts retailers, consumers, local communities and the states," said Leslie McDowell, ICSC director of legislative outreach.  "This is a decades-old problem that was created even before the Internet was available in American households. Federal action is necessary to fix our sales tax system, and www.21stcenturyretail.org will play an important part in this effort.  We look forward to engaging with industry partners and advocates through the website as we rally Congress to bring the sales tax system into the 21st century."

ICSC has promoted sales tax fairness for over a decade, advocating that a "sale is a sale" regardless of whether the purchase takes place on Main Street, at shopping centers, via mail-order or over the Internet.

Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 55,000 members in over 90 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials. As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world. For more information, visit www.icsc.org.  

SOURCE International Council of Shopping Centers