Shopping Center Industry Applauds Introduction of Remote Transactions Parity Act of 2015
Legislation Would Finally Bring Parity to Brick-and-Mortar Retailers
Jun 15, 2015, 04:45 ET
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) applauded the introduction of the Remote Transactions Parity Act of 2015 in the 114th Congress by Representatives Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Steve Womack (R-AR). This legislation would finally create parity between online-only sellers and brick-and-mortar retailers on the collection of state and local sales taxes.
"The shopping center industry would like to thank this group of retail champions in the House for their leadership in introducing a bill that provides true parity at the time of sale and levels the playing field for brick-and-mortar businesses," said Michael P. Kercheval, president and CEO of ICSC.
Congress has considered efairness legislation for more than a decade. Earlier this year, the Senate introduced the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2015, which enjoys broad bipartisan support. Today's development signals that the House of Representatives is prepared to move forward with legislation that will provide local retailers with a fair chance to compete. The Remote Transactions Parity Act of 2015 boasts strong support from both parties as demonstrated by the original cosponsors which include Lou Barletta (R-PA), John Conyers (D-MI), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Bob Dold (R-IL), Renee Ellmers (R-NC), Kristi Noem (R-SD), Scott Rigell (R-VA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Steve Stivers (R-OH) and Peter Welch (D-VT).
The Remote Transactions Parity Act of 2015 restores free market principles to retailers by removing the government-sanctioned tax subsidy that is currently given to online-only sellers. Importantly, it also strikes a balance between states' rights and regulatory protections for remote and multichannel sellers.
"This bill is the product of a thorough and inclusive stakeholder process and enjoys broad support by the business community," said Betsy Laird, senior vice president of Global Public Policy for ICSC. "The Senate and the House have both spent significant time deliberating this issue. It is now time for Congress to stand up for local retailers and pass this job creating, bi-partisan, common sense bill."
ICSC has promoted efairness for over a decade, advocating that a "sale is a sale" regardless of whether the purchase takes place on Main Street, at shopping centers, or over the Internet. For more information about efairness and how the current sales tax system is unable to support the 21st century retail marketplace, please visit efairness.org.
About ICSC
Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 68,000 members in over 100 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials. For more information, visit www.icsc.org.
SOURCE ICSC