In an effort to get congress to act on legislation that would make online retailers collect state sales tax, the National Retail Federation has launched a nationwide 60-day campaign to raise awareness about the issue among lawmakers and the public. “Our current sales tax system unfairly favors one set of retailers over another,” NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Congress is naming winners and losers by its failure to address this issue, and the brick-and-mortar retailers who create jobs across our country want action on this issue now.”
The goal of the campaign, Shay said, is to “mobilize the retail industry in support of a national solution so every retailer – regardless of whether they sell their merchandise online, through the mail or in a store on Main Street – can compete on a level playing field.”
NRF’s 60-day campaign will include: grassroots events as part of NRF’s Retail Means Jobs campaign, including stops in Chicago and Columbus; an online petition allowing merchants and consumers to have their voices heard; a series of videos featuring small retailers talking about the competitive disadvantage they face; targeted print and online advertising in targeted states and congressional districts; grassroots mobilization of retailers from across the country through NRF's members and state retail associations; a media relations campaign including editorial board meetings, interviews, and national placement of op-eds and letters to the editor; and social media engagement to educate legislators and the public, including an infographic to visually depict the sales tax problem.
