Texas Legislature passes bill to collect sales tax from online retailers that operate in state

Brick-and-mortar retailers have won a battle in the Texas Legislature.
On Friday, the Senate approved a bill passed earlier by the House that defines all the ways a retailer can be considered to have a physical presence in Texas and therefore be required to collect sales tax.

Maria Halkias: http://dallasne.ws/lrojcA

Double-digit rebound of Texas sales tax receipts continues

It's getting to be a broken record: Comptroller Susan Combs announced Wednesday morning that Texas' sales tax revenue receipts increased by 11.4 percent last month, compared with April 2010.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/iDzmgE

Sales tax up for 12th consecutive month, Combs reports

The state collected 9.9 percent more sales tax in March -- or $1.6 billion -- than in the same month a year earlier, Comptroller Susan Combs reported Wednesday.
It was the 12th consecutive month of year over year increases, after 14 wicked months in a row of decreases.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/gSHKtW

Combs adds $300M to her revenue estimate for this year

Comptroller Susan Combs increased her revenue estimate Monday for the current fiscal year by $300 million. She cited improved sales tax collections.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/hUXCkp

Sales tax receipts up 9.7 percent last month

 Starting from a very low, recession-racked base a year ago, Texas' consumer economy continues to plug along. It's not catching fire, just steadily eclipsing last year's consumer spending by about 10 percent, more or less, each month.
 http://dallasne.ws/h1hVji

Perry criticizes Combs' handling of Amazon

Gov. Rick Perry, in Washington to speak to the conservative C-PAC gathering, today second-guessed Comptroller Susan Combs' handling of a tax dispute with Amazon. Amazon said this week it will close an Irving distribution center because of an unfavorable regulatory climate in Texas. The company cited Combs' attempt to collect Texas sales tax on Amazon's Internet sales to Texans, because the warehouse constituted a "nexus" under tax law.
Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/idctfM

Sales tax receipts up 9.4 percent last month

Texas sales tax receipts for December were $1.81 billion, up 9.4 percent over the same month a year earlier, Comptroller Susan Combs announced today.


Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/dK5Qp8

State sales tax revenue up 8.7% last month

Texas collected more sales tax in November, marking the eighth month in a row that receipts were higher than last year, Comptroller Susan Combs announced today.




How do I nudge thee? Garrett counts the ways: http://dallasne.ws/gyKqXn

Sales tax receipts for May up, barely

Comptroller Susan Combs thinks an end may be near for Texas' tumbling sales tax receipts. Or even already here. But stress the maybe. A double dip is still a risk, she said today.
http://tinyurl.com/2dr2ey9

Business tax receipts down 10 percent -- so far

The state's revamped business tax has yielded $3.6 billion this year, down from $4 billion at the same time in the last fiscal year, Comptroller Susan Combs' office announced today. The news could further complicate an already grim financial outlook: This year's budget assumes $4.3 billion from the so-called margins tax or revised franchise tax. Garrett reports.
http://tinyurl.com/267ds6q

Retail uptick: Clothes, electronics sales up sharply

Garrett:

Sales tax collections in Texas on retail purchases, which have been posting single-digit decreases for more than a year, increased by 4.8 percent in April, an expert said today. Leading the way were sharp increases in consumer activity at clothing and electronics goods stores, chief revenue estimator John Heleman.of Comptroller Susan Combs' office told the House Appropriations Committee.
http://tinyurl.com/2crvwog

State budget officials to testify today on lagging sales tax revenues

Garrett, with Hoppe contributing:

AUSTIN – State budget officials are to appear this morning before a House committee to talk about sagging state revenues and the implications for the next legislative session.
http://tinyurl.com/2wqynsw

State pitching in $31.2 million to help cover Super Bowl tab

State officials announced today that they would set aside $31.2 million worth of sales tax revenue to help fund Super Bowl XLV in Arlington next year. Jeff Mosier reports.