In a number of ways, 2020 has been a year of unprecedented change. In the world of online sales and use tax, which has already seen significant change over the last two years, legislation is quickly being adapted to fit the ‘new normal’ that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, the fallout of the pandemic has significantly affected Wayfair-related legislation and how it is being applied.
These laws, which came about after the 2018 Wayfair ruling, have allowed over 40 states across the country to implement economic nexus and marketplace facilitation guidance. In a time when states are looking for ways to make up for lost revenue and to fill budget deficits caused by the pandemic, these laws are prime targets.
Economic Nexus During the Pandemic
As mentioned above, the last two years have seen dramatic change for online sales tax due to the Wayfair ruling. Only two states with a general sales tax have yet to implement some sort of Wayfair-related legislation. However, the pandemic may finally push lawmakers to pull the trigger.
As shared in this article from Avalara, Florida lawmakers introduced an economic nexus bill in August 2019, which progressed through the rest of the year and beginning of 2020, but died in appropriations in March 2020. However, the economic fallout of COVID-19 in Florida, which relies heavily on sales tax collected by in-state businesses, may yet cause lawmakers to change their tune.
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