Why allow a sales tax loophole?

States like Washington -that have no income tax- rely heavily on sales tax revenue.

Needless to say, when there is a dip in the economy, revenues dry up.

Why allow some people to use what amounts to a system of tax avoidance to cheat the state (us) out of much needed revenue?

Should the savvier consumer with Internet access be rewarded with what is essentially tax shelter?

I considered purchasing a telescope recently and figured if I bought it on-line, from a shop back east, the amount of tax I would save would pay for the shipping- which you have to pay for anywhere since the scopes are drop-shipped to the dealer.

If I did this, the State would be out the sales tax money my local dealer would be out the sale. This hurts the state I live in. There is no guarantee the some out-of-state purchaser will buy from my local shop, which in fact has gone out of business.

Unless I read it wrong, they just want to close the loophole and make people pay the tax they owe.

It's not the nickel-an-email tax.

(Putting on my helmet)