Flamingo World Takes on Anti-Affiliate Legislation SF 282 in Minnesota Today
While there was a recent victory in Maryland for the affiliate industry, the battle fighting the recent crop of New York Amazon Tax clones continues. According to the Performance Marketing Alliance, the Minnesota Senate tax committee will be reviewing SF 282. Expected to testify against the legislation today is Connie Berg, Owner of Flamingo World, who has been outspoken against the tax. We wish Connie good luck.
If you are an affiliate in Minnesota here are some ways to reach your representatives:
Call, fax or email your Senators today. Here is where you can get contact information.
Call your Representative
Since the bill is up for review by the Senate tax committee contact your in the Senate representative first. Make sure to make that call the priority. You’ll probably just leave a message or talk to a staffer. It is a very brief conversation. Here’s what you say:
My name is [ ], and I am a small business owner in your district. SB 282 will jeopardize my business. There are hundreds of small businesses just like mine in Minnesota, which will be devastated if this bill passes. We are affiliate marketers and we advertise on the internet. SB 282 assumes we sell on behalf of out-of-state retailers, but that is not true. I urge you to oppose SB 282.
Send a letter, email or fax to your house and senate representatives.
These are 2 quick messages. It is important to stick to some very simple points, which will have the most impact to these representatives. Form letters aren’t as effective as sending something personal. Fax is probably the best and fastest approach.
Here are key points to include in your message:
1. Who you are, where you live, and any ties you have to the community.
2. Include this information, or a variation:
I am an affiliate marketer and I earn a living through Internet advertising. I do not sell merchant products, I do not even know who their customers are. My business earns revenue through advertising for out-of-state merchants. XX% of my revenue comes from out-of-state merchants (it is important to add an approximate percentage, so legislators can see the impact). I know out-of-state advertisers will stop working with me, because that is what happened to affiliates in New York.
3. Emphatically state:
I am against SB 282. As my representative I need you to vote to oppose SB 282. Can I count on you to be against this terrible legislation?
4. Ask your legislator to contact you and provide an update on SB 282. Be sure to include your telephone and email.
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Special thanks to the PMA for providing this information template.
Way to go Connie! We all need to do what we can to speak out against these taxes.
Go Connie!!!
If anyone can speak their mind and make an impact it is you Connie!
I just stopped over at the Revenews booth at Gnomedex and got schooled!
Had no idea that affiliate programs were causing so much juicy controversy! Learned the story of Connie who runs FlamingoWorld who opposed a bill in Minnesota that would tax sales generated by affiliate marketers as if they were directly selling or drop shipping inventory.
Let's imagine the following scenario to see why Connie opposed the bill (NOTE: I am not a lawyer)
- You need your taxes done
- You're going to hire someone to do it
- Accountants in your state must charge sales tax for their services
You liked the work of the accountant so you told a few people. Next time you go into your accountant, they mention four people had their taxes done because of your good words (aka referrals). They want to give you a break on your taxes to say thank you. You accept.
Should now be responsible for paying taxes as if you had done the tax returns for those four people?
Heck no!
In this case, you've accepted payment in the form of a gift or discount. This isn't the same as doing the actual taxes of the people you referred and potentially owing tax.
Thank you Connie for standing up for us in Minnesota!