WTF, Amazon charged me tax!

Not sure what happened. Lots of stuff from Amazon is actually sold by third party vendors using the amazon site. If this is the case, maybe that particular vendor has an operation in your taxing area. In the US, if an internet vendor has a presence in my state, they charge tax.

Don't know if this is what happened, or not. If it is a third party vendor, you will eventually have the opportunity to critique them, if you haven't been able to contact Amazon sooner.

That thought did cross my mind (what's left of it) but if so why an estimated tax?

BTW, it's being shipped to a Washington state address I have access to, even though I'm a Canuck. Panasonic will not sell this unit in Canada for reasons unknown.

Because Amazon isn't responsible for calculating the correct taxes. In some locations there are municiple/city sales taxes too. The 3rd party seller is responsible for calculating the actual taxes to be charged. Amazon just gives you an Estimated tax number until the vendor notifies them of the actual tax.

Ah......interesting.......much thanks indeed! Is there any way to know in advance whether the third party seller is shipping in-state or out-of-state?

Go to Amazon.com, click on help then click on contact us!

I thought if you ordered from a company based in a state (Amazon is based in Washington) and you had it sent to an address within that state (err... Washington) that you had to pay the state's sales tax.

I've been wrong before but I think that's the way it works.

Well, that is how it works, especially Amazon, which doesn't seem to have any brick and mortar stores. Now, some online vendors do have a physical presence in many states. You may order from a store in Washington, but if it also has a store in New Mexico, you are going to get stuck with tax at the New Mexico rate, regardless of where the online center is located. In the case of Amazon's secondary vendors, I don't believe the rule applies to Amazon's location at all.

What is going on with Chumly in Canada might be subject to different rules.

Chumly ordered from a Washington based business and had the purchase sent to a Washington address. As I understand things that would make him responsible for Washington taxes.

Oh. I was thinking he had it sent to British Columbia. This explains everything.

Thanks for the spiffy input all!

1-800-201-7575- That's Amazon's number. It is not easy to find, so write it down!

Well that's very kind indeed!