Sales and Use Tax

Hey Roban - add me to the list of dumbest people of 2008.

Hoping one of you will have some advice. Being new at this whole owning an online store blah blah blah, I was not aware that I had to file a separate tax statement for the Sales and Use Tax. I thought I took care of that when I had my personal taxes done last year. Consequently, all the mail I got from the state of Wisconsin in 2008 went into a nice neat folder to take to the tax person this year. I just happen to open one of them in October and found that it was a bill for over $600!!:eek: I faxed them a polite and concise letter (and supporting documents) explaining the situation (i.e. I'm an idiot PLUS I barely did $600 in sales in 2007 since the store did not open until the fall). Since then I had not heard anything until I got another bill this weekend for over $700 (they added on penalties)!! Yikes!! Now what? With the husband out of work and the site not quite supporting itself, I can't afford this :mad:.

Sorry to hear this. I understand that the IRS and state tax are forgiving a lot these days in light of the financial debacle. You might call them.

Don't cave in. Try to reason/deal with them.

I don't know how your state operates, but some in the employ of the State of Idaho, especially some that deal with tax matters, are idiots. You may have some of the same luck. :D

We've had the same lamebrain sending letters, calling and showing up at our door trying to collect "employment/unemployment" taxes on our business for the past FIVE years ... he won't stop. Not even after our lawyer AND accountant have spoken to his supervisor. He shows up at least once a year and we get at least three letters and three phone calls, year in, year out.

Because of the way we're organized, and because we have no employees, and because neither partner is taking any money out right now, we don't owe any taxes or fees. NOt until we hire someone or start disbursing funds to ourselves.

My point is, if you didn't do any business before the fall, you may not owe the taxes for the months before that.