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Beginning 1 September, we will need to geoblock Mississippi IPs

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295 points AndrewDucker | 2 comments | 27 Aug 25 20:03 UTC | HN request time: 0.511s | source
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WUMBOWUMBO ◴[27 Aug 25 20:26 UTC] No.45044734[source]▶
Clueless human, but what stops a company from ignoring these laws from certain states? How is this enforceable if a company doesn't have any infrastructure within that state?
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VWWHFSfQ ◴[27 Aug 25 20:50 UTC] No.45045074[source]▶
> How is this enforceable if a company doesn't have any infrastructure within that state?

It's a good question. Maybe something with interstate commerce laws?

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petcat ◴[27 Aug 25 20:56 UTC] No.45045151[source]▶
There used to be the "Oregon sales tax loophole" where residents of neighboring states (Washington, California, Idaho) would make large purchases (car) just over the border in Oregon where there was no sales tax.

That loophole got closed once inter-state data sharing became possible and Oregon merchants were required to start collecting those out-of-state taxes at the point of sale.

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chrismcb ◴[27 Aug 25 21:00 UTC] No.45045203[source]▶
That wasn't a loophole. It was just a bunch of people evading taxes.
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1. quickthrowman ◴[27 Aug 25 21:19 UTC] No.45045431[source]▶
You are correct, virtually every state has a law that says “If you buy something in another state and pay less sales tax than we charge, you owe us the sales tax we would’ve charged you.”

It’s called a ‘use tax’. In practice, nobody pays (personal) use tax, myself included.

Washington has a use tax: https://dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/use-tax

California has a use tax: https://cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and-fees/use-tax/

Idaho has a use tax: https://tax.idaho.gov/taxes/sales-use/use-tax/online-guide/

So, all of those people going to Oregon to shop without sales tax and not paying use tax were technically breaking the law, not using a loophole. I’m not judging them, I don’t pay use tax either :)

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2. toast0 ◴[28 Aug 25 06:05 UTC] No.45048949[source]▶
Washington at least will refund sales tax paid for goods purchased in Washington for use exclusively outside of Washington if purchased by residents of US states and CA provinces with low sales taxes, if the forms are followed.

I understand it used to be possible to show ID in store and have sales tax not be applied, but now you need to submit receipts and etc.