Connecticut House Bill HB05891

Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/19
• Refer: 1/23/19

Caption

An Act Concerning The Use Of Technology To Automate The Collection And Remittance Of Sales Tax.

Impact

The bill is expected to have a significant impact on business operations, particularly for small to medium-sized enterprises that may need to invest in new technology or adapt existing processes to comply with the new requirements. The intent is to create a more uniform mechanism for sales tax collection across the state, which could alleviate some administrative burdens faced by businesses that operate in multiple jurisdictions. Proponents of HB 5891 argue that automating the sales tax process is crucial for modernizing state revenue systems and ensuring the financial health of public services reliant on these funds.

Summary

House Bill 5891 aims to reform the sales tax collection process in Connecticut by mandating that businesses incorporate technology at the point of sale to automate both the collection and remittance of sales tax to the state. This initiative seeks to enhance the efficiency of tax collection, ensuring timely remittance and improved compliance among businesses. The integration of technology is envisioned to streamline processes that have traditionally required manual efforts, potentially reducing errors and increasing the overall revenue collected by the state from sales tax.

Contention

However, there are potential points of contention surrounding the implementation of this bill. Critics may argue that the costs associated with upgrading technology systems could disproportionately affect smaller businesses, leading to concerns over financial viability and fairness. There may also be apprehensions regarding data privacy and security as businesses increasingly rely on technology to handle sensitive transactional data. Legislative discussions may address these concerns by considering provisions or support for small businesses to ease the transition and protect consumer data while improving sales tax compliance.