JET.COM pitches itself as a lower-priced alternative to Amazon.com, partly by not tacking on sales taxes in most states.But tax experts say Jet’s proposed $3.3bn sale to retail giant Wal-Mart could jeopardise that price advantage by forcing it to collect taxes nationwide.A 1992 Supreme Court ruling allows online retailers to avoid collecting sales taxes in states where they do not have a physical presence, such as a warehouse, a local store or office.New York-based Jet collects taxes in just seven states, avoiding big ones such as California and Texas.On Wednesday, Amazon and Jet each listed a Le Creuset French oven for $319.95. But an Amazon shopper in Chicago, for example, would have to pay sales taxes of $32.79, unlike the Jet shopper.Wal-Mart has a physical presence in every state, according to a spokesperson, so it does collect sales taxes for items it sells on Walmart.com in all states that impose them.Once the acquisition is closed, it is not clear how Wal-Mart will handle ta...
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