Coalition pushes to block digital advertising tax in Maryland

A coalition of businesses is gearing up for a fight in January over Maryland’s first-in-the-nation attempt to levy a tax on online advertising.

Maryland lawmakers passed the tax earlier this year, in hopes of drumming up money for education by taxing Big Tech. Republican Gov. Larry Hogan vetoed the tax, setting up a battle over whether the Democratic-led legislature will override the veto when its next legislative session starts in January.

A coalition calling itself Marylanders for Tax Fairness is starting a push against the tax two months before lawmakers will have to make their decision on the veto. The coalition will launch a website and ad campaign Tuesday.

The coalition’s members call the tax shortsighted and deeply flawed. And they say the costs will be passed on to Marylanders, as businesses charge higher prices to cover their increased cost of advertising.

Read more: https://www.capitalgazette.com/politics/bs-md-pol-ad-tax-fight-20201110-py6jezzh4vgy5jw5h2ejshdhem-story.html
(Annapolis Capital Gazette)