"Internet Sales Tax Poll--Illinois".

• Position: Brief Article

Market Shares Corporation, September 14, 2000.

Taxation of Internet transactions has been a hot topic amongst not only public finance officers, but traditional retailers as well. In order to get the opinion of the voters on this issue, the International Council of Shopping Centers commissioned a study to survey 400 registered Illinois voters residing in households who had participated in past elections. The survey respondents were categorized by party affiliation and level of Internet access (access or no access, and whether or not they had made a retail purchase over the Internet). Respondents were then asked whether or not they were in favor of Internet retail transactions. Next, respondents were presented with five arguments in favor of Internet taxation and two arguments against, and then asked again whether they are in favor of Internet taxation. The arguments in favor were, in order of level of respondent agreement, 1) that lack of Internet sales tax was unfair to traditional retail, 2) that lack of Internet taxation will lead to other less fair tax ation, 3) that no taxation will lead to other tax increases/service cut-backs, 4) absence of Internet sales taxes are unfair to low...