Only on cars and items you have delivered by the store. That's why when I bought my $4,000 hot tub, I avoided the tax by having it delivered by a vendor outside the store.
That's a good point. We saved $800 on wifey's car in Vancouver. Maybe some other sale items, but it's true that shopping in Vancouver is a waste of time.
Most of you seem to be missing the point that the exemption of Oregon consumers from sales tax isn't for the benefit of the consumer, but for the Washington business. Making the process for the consumer doesn't impact the consumers themselves as much as the businesses who will lose their patronage.
Also, comparing income tax and sales tax is silly. Think about it--Washington residents working in Oregon are removing resources from the Oregon economy. The state of Oregon does not benefit from the Washington resident working here. In fact, we'd be better off if you didn't, because then that job could then be filled by an Oregon resident who would then keep most of the money in state as well as requiring less public assistance. On the other hand, Oregon residents shopping in Washington is a benefit to the economy there, because they are bringing money to the Washington economy that wouldn't be there otherwise. It's not as if their patronage prevents Washington residents from spending their money; it's all upside. So, it makes sense that the Washingtonians who drain the Oregon economy by working here should be taxed, whereas the Oregonians who boost the Washington economy by shopping there should not.
Drain the Oregon economy by working here? Ignore the fact that we make purchases in Oregon... for example - lunch, happy hour after work, gas, and spend a good portion of our entertainment $$ in PDX. I disagree. I lived in PDX until I was about 30 then I moved to East Vancouver. I'll never move back. The east side of Vancouver is very nice, great schools, low crime, etc. etc.
Again, spending money here that was here to start with, that an Oregon resident would spend here as well. What percent of your take-home pay do you spend in Oregon? 15%? Don't even try to claim that you don't take the vast majority of it back across the river. The point stands--Oregonians shopping in Washington is inherently good for Washington; Washingtonians working in Oregon is NOT inherently good for Oregon, and it can easily be argued that it is detrimental.
I guess we should all just work and spend in the state we live in... and never take our $$$ elsewhere (no vacations!!). Brilliant idea!
I disagree. I work in Oregon, but live in Washington. The Oregon income taxes I pay provide for a host of things I don't benefit from by being a non citizen. They benefit Oregonians, but not me. Among other things, I pay state worker salaries, build schools, all sorts of other infrastructure, contribute to the OHP... the list goes on.
The only time I go to the 'Couv is in late June for fireworks.....and BeerBoy just have them transfer you to a TacoBell up there if you don't want to pay income tax!
Not at all what I said. Nice attempt at a strawman though. What I did say is that taxation on income is completely different than taxation on sales, for the reasons I've listed. I'm sure working in Oregon and living in Washington is great for you. As such, you shouldn't be complaining about paying the related taxes. Similarly, having Oregonians come over and shop in Washington is good for Washington, and as such, they should not be in any hurry to take any action that will reduce Oregonian visitors. I really don't get what part of this is so difficult for you to grasp.
Yes, but the things that your taxes support would exist regardless of whether your job were filled by you or an Oregonian. Hiring you instead of an Oregonian doesn't help Oregon one bit.
But if an oregonian was doing your job, they would pay that same bill. if you were living in the state, would you appreciate any of that more than me? I don't have kids that go to school, I don't directly see my state employees work. Yet you don't come over for every meal you purchase, nor your groceries. The money you spend comes from oregon and goes into washington. you probably pay no more than 5% of your income back to oregon, while 95% goes to washington.
No, I pay full OR income taxes and spend about 80% of sales taxable dollars in OR as well. I mean, why pay WA sales tax on the laptop I bought last month? It benefits OR even more so in that I'm now supporting local businesses from a different state. But, as a native born Oregonian, I'm glad to help out. I'm still a native at heart.
Yeah, but you do that for tax evasion purposes, not because you work in Oregon. If you worked in Washington, you would still come to Oregon to avoid the sales tax. Your employment in Oregon and your expenditures in Oregon are mostly unrelated.
"strawman" ??? Because of the sales tax Oregonians are less likely to buy in Washington (even if they can avoid the tax)... and the fact that far more Vancouver people work in PDX than PDX people work in Vancouver (much more Vancouver income spent in Oregon)... isnt it safe to say the situation benefits Oregon far more than Washington?
I disagree. If I didnt work in PDX, I wouldnt come across the bridge nearly as often. To me, it's not worth the gas $$ and time to drive across the bridge to avoid the sales tax and save a few bucks.
Oregon should drop the income tax and have a sales tax instead. That way you collect $$$ from the responsible employed people and the worthless scum who choose not to work.
