A very few business owners — those who provide services or special products — would perhaps be affected by the removal of the Washington sales-tax exception now offered for customers from Oregon. It seems to me that the entire purchase price, including sales tax, would be legally counted as a business expense for those customers unless they are individuals.
The other stores, those with sister stores in Portland, are allowing people with an Oregon driver’s license to buy large-ticket items without paying our sales tax on the purchases. Why would anyone drive across the Interstate 5 or Interstate 205 bridges to shop at a Macy’s, J.C. Penneys, Sears or any of the computer stores with branch stores in Portland? I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to know what these people are doing; sometimes, they probably have a friend living in Portland do the purchasing for them.
We’re losing too much tax money for this practice to continue. If you buy here, pay the sales tax as we do. Many people are cheating on these purchases, and it’s hurting our state. This practice should be stopped now.
A. Patricia Bauer
Ridgefield
