Is there a way to avoid paying tax on Amazon?

Chary

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Ethics of tax and fraud and evil-doing and whatever aside, is there any way to avoid paying nearly 10% extra on the crap I order on Amazon? Going to order a $600+ monitor soon, a Switch down the line, and numerous other expensive junk, and I really don't want to pay taxes on this stuff if I can avoid it. I'm a stickler for my money, and right now I'm debating pre-ordering Fire Emblem Echoes off Amazon because there's a $3 tax. I know it seems petty--but think of how much that adds up to in a year, purchase after purchase.

Sometimes, items aren't taxed. I assume that's because the seller or that specific Amazon warehouse, I'm unsure, reside in Oregon, or one of the other very few states that have no sales tax. I've tried setting my billing address to one in Oregon, but alas it didn't negate the tax. Whether the tax happens or not seems to be incredibly random. Do they determine the tax based on where the credit card's address is linked to, or where the item ships out from? And are there any little tricks I can do to not pay the tax at all?

come at me, government
 
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zoogie

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tax evasion is a serious crime
What the .......
She said "avoid" not evade.
http://www.bizfilings.com/toolkit/sbg/tax-info/fed-taxes/tax-avoidance-and-tax-evasion.aspx

@Chary you just have to a seller that isn't based in your state. Amazon fulfillment usually disqualifies you from avoiding tax since they're based everywhere. (a distribution site counts as a physical presence)
Don't know if this will help:
https://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2015/09/21/states-that-collect-amazon-sales-tax/
 

Chary

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I'm not sure on the tax rate in US, but it is 20% in the U.K.
Well that's horrifying.

helpful snip
Aha. So it is based upon seller. Ah well. At least now I know I can search out sellers that don't offer tax when it comes to non-Amazon-fulfilled items. Thanks.

Also it notes that Jet was bought out by Walmart on that site, what a bummer :/
 

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With the 3DS and Wii U you could type the zip code 99551, (in alaska) and not pay tax. I don't know about Amazon.
 

Armadillo

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Can't help, but

Well that's horrifying.

It's not too bad. We don't have to worry about paying for medical insurance or hoping X is covered even if we do. So expense wise, it probably all works out much the same in the end.

I'd rather the higher rate and have things like the nhs, than cut it much lower and lose them.
 
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Supster131

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There is a way, and I've used to several times. The great part is, it's legal!
I don't know if this works in other states, but if the item is being shipped from another state, you aren't charged tax. Say I'm ordering a PS4 or something, but it's being shipped from Nevada, I won't be charged due to it being outside of state. However, if that PS4 is available in a Californian warehouse, then I will be charged tax. It really depends on item to item and the availability of it in your state's warehouse or not.
 
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With the 3DS and Wii U you could type the zip code 99551, (in alaska) and not pay tax. I don't know about Amazon.

I use 99501 in Alaska for Wii U and 3DS eShops. I do not think I am doing anything wrong as Nintendo does not have a brick and mortar presence in the state I live in.
 

RustInPeace

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Regrettably I never knew Chary was a woman until now. Anyways...get Prime? You get the 20% discount on physical new games for 2 weeks of release. Paid $77 for the S/M double pack steelbook instead of what would've been $90. I never thought about tax being a hindrance, I give a little margin of tax and shipping without sometimes calculating the exact value. So for N3DS XL, always had $215 ready because shipping and tax typically made it around $212 or so. I'm stingy with my money, similarly enough, just got be sure you have a tiny bit more than you think it costs, or calculate tax and shipping ahead of time and have the exact amount ready upon purchase. I don't think it's nationwide, here in Pennsylvania the sales tax is 6%, I'm pretty sure it is, hence the N3DS example, $6-7 for shipping, $6 tax, $199 MSRP
 
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If you're a person of Aboriginal Status, you're legally allowed to get a tax exemption up here in Canada. I exempt taxes a lot for customers who are Native Canadian. Sold a PS4 for 372.92 to 329.99 on Boxing Day.

Not all natives get many tax breaks -- like me. There's varying levels and you shouldn't just pass that info off as "fact".
 
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When I lived in Idaho I never paid a cent for sales tax on Amazon. Now that I'm out here in Washington, I've been hit with that a couple times. I was thinking about setting up a VPN to spoof my location or some such (maybe Alaska ;) ) to see if that changed the situation, but I have not gotten around to it yet.
 

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