Arizona panel to consider online sales tax issue

By PAUL DAVENPORT

PHOENIX

The issue of whether Amazon.com should be required to collect tax on online sales to Arizonans isn't going away.

State legislators during their 2012 regular session considered but ultimately shelved proposals to force the Seattle-based online retailer to collect tax on its sales in Arizona.

But the issue is expected to resurface publicly within coming months when a newly appointed state task force considers making recommendations for legislative action on improving the state's sales tax system.

Gov. Jan Brewer didn't specify online purchases as a specific topic for the sales tax task force to consider.

However, a senior Brewer aide who will lead the panel says the issue will be considered under its charge to recommend ways to simplify the state's sales tax system.