The Norman Transcript

Opinion

Discussion

November 25, 2012

How’s that again?

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Editor, The Transcript:

Norman resident Michael Delaney appeared on the front page of The Oklahoman on Monday complaining that the state of Oklahoma was enforcing tax laws that require small businesses that collect sales tax to remit that money to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. He claimed that requiring businesses to remit sales taxes paid by customers was “very disturbing, very overreaching, very controlling legislation ... “

He added, “I have serious concerns and questions about where our government is going with regards to control of small businesses, why they need such control and why wouldn’t it behoove the government to always allow a business to keep its doors open, keep its people employed, and take what existing rules and regulations that are on the books for collecting back taxes.”

I look forward to Delaney explaining in these pages how government collecting customer-paid sales tax from a small business will close the doors of a business and cause the company’s employees to lose their job.

I’ve heard the Republican refrain about high taxes, but not remitting collected sales tax to the state is a new spin on resistance to taxation. Apparently, Delaney feels small businesses need collected customer sales tax to remain in business and pay their employees.

Mr. Delaney, please, come forward and explain.

ROBERT FAIRBANKS

Norman

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