In addition to leveling the playing field for local businesses, requiring Amazon.com to collect sales tax on purchases made in Massachusetts would also provide a needed boost to the MBTA, which receives a portion of sales tax revenues as its main state subsidy (“Mass. may tell Amazon to charge sales tax,” Page A1, June 6). Additional revenues from online sales would not be enough to solve the T’s current fiscal woes, but it would certainly help, especially as the T budget deficit for next year remains unresolved.
Like many other knowledge-economy companies, Amazon chose to come to Greater Boston because of the area’s high concentration of educated workers. The access and mobility afforded by our public transportation system contributes to the quality of life that attracts and maintains this workforce.
It is in Amazon’s best interest, then, as well as in the interest of the Commonwealth, for the company to collect the sales tax to help support the T.
Richard Parr
Policy director
A Better City
Boston