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The impact of sales taxation on internet commerce -- An empirical analysis

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  • Ahmed, Shamim
  • Wirjanto, Tony S.

Abstract

This paper examines how sales taxation on Internet purchases could affect the decision to buy goods over the Internet. The results appear robust with respect to unobserved technological sophistication or other alternative explanations. The tax effect is found to be significant and its magnitude suggests that applying a provincial average sales tax of 14% to all Internet sales in Canada would reduce the number of online buyers by as much as 44%.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed, Shamim & Wirjanto, Tony S., 2008. "The impact of sales taxation on internet commerce -- An empirical analysis," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 99(3), pages 557-560, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:99:y:2008:i:3:p:557-560
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Glenn Ellison & Sara Fisher Ellison, 2006. "Internet Retail Demand: Taxes, Geography, and Online-Offline Competition," NBER Working Papers 12242, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Glenn Ellison & Sara Fisher Ellison, 2005. "Lessons About Markets from the Internet," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 19(2), pages 139-158, Spring.
    3. Austan Goolsbee, 2000. "In a World Without Borders: The Impact of Taxes on Internet Commerce," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 115(2), pages 561-576.
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    Cited by:

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