by Donald Wood
Last updated: 1:10 PM ET, Mon March 4, 2019
American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is calling on its members to help stand against state sales taxes being levied against travel agency services.
According to ASTA.org, state governments in Nebraska and Utah have proposed the application of sales tax charges to travel arrangement and reservation services.
The announcements come just weeks after a similar tax reform bill was introduced in Connecticut.
Utah Governor Gary Herbert proposed reducing the state's sales tax by 1.75 percent while broadening the tax base to include services. Legislation recently introduced in the Utah House would impose state sales and use tax on amounts paid or charged for services, including travel agents and advisors.
ASTA officials are stressing the situation in Utah is the most urgent, with leaders working to pass its tax reform bill before the legislature is scheduled to adjourn on March 14. Travel advisories and agents from Utah are being asked to contact their legislators as soon as possible.
In the past, ASTA officials have stood against similar tax plans in Illinois, Maine, Ohio and Pennsylvania and managed to defeat the measures, saving agents and advisors $62.6 million a year collectively in new taxes.
Topics From This Article to Explore
