Hi John,

If the party offering an item for auction that you bought does regular business on a retail level, they must have state and local sales licenses, and they must collect these taxes on in-state sales. While there are, and have been efforts to tax every transaction made on an interstate basis, as well as new efforts to tax internet transactions, these efforts have not yet succeeded. You will find regular businesses that will ask you to add what is their state and local tax onto a purchase just to keep their books straight. If you doubt their license claims, call your Secretary of State's office to find out if they're indeed licensed. ....you almost have to have retail sales tax licensing to accept credit cards, and that probably governs some poeple to move their hobby into more of a business than a hobby. If you want to see the government trying to tax every transaction that you or me might try to make, even based on even trade value, vote Democrat. ....If you want to be able to trade freely, vote Republican.

Bob