Effort to collect more sales tax clears Oklahoma House panel

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A bill intended to capture some of an estimated $150 million in unpaid sales taxes on Internet purchases made by Oklahomans each year has cleared a House committee.

Members of the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Revenue and Tax voted 5-2 on Monday for the bill that would require some online retailers to notify Oklahomans who make purchases that they may owe state taxes. The bill would apply to retailers with annual sales of more than $1 million.

The bill is one of several being considered by the Republican-controlled Legislature to increase revenue from unpaid sales and use taxes.

Oklahomans are required to report and pay taxes on items they purchase online from out-of-state retailers, but the state Tax Commission estimates only 4 percent of taxpayers comply with the rule.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.

The Gayly- 4/4/2016 @ 12:34 PM CDT