In Illinois the court battles for state employee pensions might just be beginning but Illinois affiliates finally had a victory after almost 3 years. After a lengthy court battle finally delivered the case in front of the Illinois Supreme Court, the “Amazon Tax” was ruled unenforceable after a lower court ruled it unconstitutional. Today, Amazon.com
invited Illinois affiliates to reapply for the Amazon Associates program with the following email:
Hello,
We’re pleased to announce that the Amazon Associates program is again open to residents of the State of Illinois. We’re now able to re-open the program because the Illinois State Supreme Court recently struck down legislation that had forced Amazon to close the program to residents of Illinois. Amazon strongly supports federal legislation like the Marketplace Fairness Act that’s now pending before Congress, which is the only constitutional way to resolve interstate sales tax collection issues.
Residents of Illinois who would like to participate in the Amazon Associates program can submit an application here:
http://affiliate-program.
amazon.com/gp/associates/ apply/main.html Thanks for your past participation in the Amazon Associates program. We hope to see you again soon.
Earlier this year, we wrote up a timeline covering the life of the Amazon Tax in Illinois. With today’s good news, the timeline deserves an update for HB 3659, Public Act 96-1544:
January 6th, 2011 – “Amazon Tax” Passes Illinois Legislature – Amazon Warns IL Associates Accts
March 10th, 2011 – IL Governor Quinn Signs “Amazon Tax” Into Law, Overstock and Amazon Terminate All Illinois Associates
June 17th, 2011 – State of Illinois Sued For Unconstitutional “Amazon Tax” Law
July 28th, 2011 – PMA dismisses federal suit, files suit with Illinois State Circuit Court
August 3rd, 2011 – “Main Street Fairness” Act Heads To The Federal Level and Amazon Supports It
October 26th, 2011 – State Rep. Dave Winters proposes suspending Public Act 96-1544
November 30th, 2011 – Amazon testifies to Congress supporting Federal Sales Tax
December 2nd, 2011 – Overstock pushes for Equity in Sales Tax Collection Act Bill
April 27th, 2012 – Judge rules “Amazon Tax” unconstitutional
May 4, 2012 – Amazon informs me via e-mail that they have no statement on the court ruling at this time.
April 22, 2013 – Internet Sales Tax bill makes progress in the Senate
September 19, 2013 – Amazon forced third party affiliate coordinator Skimlinks to discontinue its affiliate programs for residents in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.
October 18, 2013 – Illinois Supreme Court rules that Public Act 96-1544 is “void and unenforceable”.
December 4, 2013 – Amazon.com invites former Illinois Associates to join their affiliate program once again.
Two years and nine months worth of income was lost for many Illinois-based Amazon Associates. The state chased many businesses out and lost the tax based on the affiliate income. All resulting from a law that the judicial branch ruled unenforceable.