NASHVILLE — Lawmakers on Wednesday abandoned efforts to force Amazon.com to collect sales taxes on its Tennessee transactions, but they threatened to take the issue up again in 2012 if the situation is not resolved.
The decision appears to give the Internet retailing giant a green light to continue building its two giant warehouses — known as “fulfillment centers — in Chattanooga and Bradley County with plans to hire some 1,400 to 1,500 full-time workers and 2,000 seasonal employees.
Amazon has also filed notices with the state that it is interested in building three additional center in Knoxville and Nashville.
“We’re grateful to the Tennessee government for recognizing the jobs and investment Amazon will bring to the state,” said Dave Clark, vice president of Amazon’s North America Operations, in a statement.
He said there is a potential for nearly 3,000 full-time jobs with benefits, another 4,000 seasonal jobs and an estimated $300 million total investment in Tennessee. He noted “this will be a partnership we intend on growing for many years.”
Read more in tomorrow’s Times Free Press.
Andy Sher is a Nashville-based staff writer covering Tennessee state government and politics for the Times Free Press. A Washington correspondent from 1999-2005 for the Times Free Press, Andy previously headed up state Capitol coverage for The Chattanooga Times, worked as a state Capitol reporter for The Nashville Banner and was a contributor to The Tennessee Journal, among other publications. Andy worked for 17 years at The Chattanooga Times covering police, health care, county government, ...
related articles »
Southeast Tennessee lawmakers are balking at a proposal that calls for Amazon.com to begin charging Tennessee sales taxes two or ...
Amazon.com Inc. today announced plans to open a new distribution center in Indianapolis and expand an existing one in Phoenix ...
NASHVILLE — An Amazon.com official said Wednesday that legislative efforts to make the Internet retailer collect sales taxes on its ...
NASHVILLE — Several influential state lawmakers say they want to know what sales-tax break Tennessee is offering Amazon to entice ...
I do understand the need for taxes and support it. What I detest is how individuals in office squander those taxes paid in by hard working citizens. It is shameful and outright criminal in nature. I believe it could be best described as obtaining money under false pretenses. I cannot say that all politicians are unethical and dishonest. All I can say is that in all my life I have never met or known of one who wasn't. In this instant it is just another money grab because of the dishonesty in government spending.
i don't see why we should pry a sales tax when we are not buying here in tn. they only are shipping from here. and besides a deal is a deal.
The politicians from the knoxville and nashville suburbs are butt hurt that amazon didn't build there so they want to have a hissy. That's the way the politics in this state work. Memphis gets something, then nashville wants it. Knoxville gets something, memphis wants it. And so on. A bunch of whiners who want to be re-elected by bringing pork back home and get money donations from businesses in their district without a care in the world about the overall benefit to the state.
Mr. Charles Sargent, since you have heard from many in our state, I want you to hear one more. The goal here should be securing the disposable income of the employees of these two centers. Secure the economic infusion on the consumer side, not the investor side. If this issue is pursued next year as you vow to do, TN will lose both sources of revenue. Sales tax revenue goes to state use, but consumer revenue goes to diverse business where they spend. Surely you see this is a greater prize to pursue? I pray you see logic.
Or login with:
New Account