As predicted by some Republican legislators and others in the trade, Amazon.com has cut off its Connecticut affiliates because the state will be charging an online sales tax.
The Hartford Courant's business editor, Dan Haar, says the notices went out Friday because Amazon believes that the Connecticut law, signed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, is unconstitutional. Amazon is fighting a similar law in New York State as a test case that some believe will reach the U.S. Supreme Court for a definitive decision.
Malloy's tax commissioner, Kevin B. Sullivan of West Hartford, said in a statement Friday that "they can run but they cannot hide. Amazon, Overstock and others have had more than enough business presence in Connecticut before the new remote sellers legislation passed this session. And they were also clearly doing business with sufficient state nexus on and after the May 4th effective date of the new state law."
