If you abuse the privilege, you've got to get your hand slapped. The U.S. has a moratorium on Internet sales taxes at least until October of next year. Opponents argue that it amounts to an unfair penalty on traditional stores and that states should be free to form their own policies. IT leaders generally think an unlevied tax is the best tax of all. Several point to jurisdictional issues.
People can go outside the U.S. for goods and services.
They should embrace technology to realize operational efficiencies. If they do that, the tax issue goes away. The 2000 political season is rare in that both the White House and majority control of Congress are up for grabs. The race for the White House between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush is expected to be tight, and the Democrats, though facing an uphill battle, hope to recapture the Senate and House after six years of Republican control. For their part, IT leaders surveyed expressed no strong tilt toward either party.