Aerial of the Amazon distribution center in Chattanooga/Hamilton County shot March 5, 2012.PAYING TAXESTo pay uncollected consumer use tax, the equivalent of sales tax for online purchases, visit https://apps.tn.gov/usetax.
Matt Malone’s wife buys pretty much everything on Amazon.com.
“Shoes, cologne, movies, books — she’d rather have it delivered to her door than have to go out and get it,” the Chattanooga man said.
Online shopping offers more than convenience. Internet retailers such as Amazon don’t collect state sales tax on purchases, in effect giving a nearly 10 percent discount instantly to Tennessee shoppers.
But that’s changing. Last week, Amazon started sending emails to customers, letting them know how much money they had spent at the online superstore and that they may owe the government use tax, the online equivalent to sales tax.