LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have passed a bill to help the state collect online sales taxes in an effort to capture millions of dollars lost every year from consumers who haven't been paying the tax.
The measure won final approval in the Legislature Friday on a 43-0 vote. It would go into effect on April 1 if the governor signs it.
The Nebraska Department of Revenue has already told online businesses to start collecting sales taxes on orders placed within the state, but there wasn't a formal law in place.
Sen. John McCollister of Omaha, the bill's sponsor, says it's intended to level the playing field between online retailers and brick-and-mortar shops.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that states can tax online sales from out-of-state businesses.
