Monmouth, Illinois is a typical American small town (population 9,244).
Since it isn’t anchored by big industry or manufacturing, this rural Midwest town is woven together by the strength and ingenuity of the local retail community – the mom-and-pop shops and small businesses found along Main Street that are owned and operated by members of the Monmouth community. Local retailers like Susan Kaufman of Market Alley Wines are its foundation.
Unfortunately, due to a Supreme Court decision back in 1992, these small, local retailers are under constant assault. The threat? Out-of-state online retailers who do not have to collect local or state sales tax on consumer purchases. A 1992 Supreme Court decision allows for online and remote retailers to escape the responsibility of collecting state and local sales tax - a luxury not afforded to local retailers like Kaufman.
This sales tax disparity burdens consumers with the responsibility of paying their own online sales taxes, and undercuts local retailers who are obligated to collect. It even hurts local economic growth and development – Illinois loses an estimated $1.06 billion dollars annually from the state’s budget coffers.
That’s why Kaufman joined us in our efforts to push Congress to level the playing field between online and local retailers. Watch her story below.