NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam said Friday he doesn’t want lawmakers to require Amazon.com to collect Tennessee sales taxes without first reaching an agreement with the online retailer.The Republican governor told reporters his administration is in negotiations with Amazon on a scheme to have the company expand while also collecting sales taxes in the future.“I would love to have an approach where there was an agreement first,” Haslam said. “Where Amazon would say, ‘OK, we’d like to grow and expand in Tennessee, and we want to do it according to this agreement.’”Haslam’s Democratic predecessor, Phil Bredesen, last year struck a deal that Amazon wouldn’t have to collect sales taxes on items sold through new distribution centers in southeastern Tennessee.The deal has upset retailers, who say it gives Amazon an unfair advantage.
Governor works to redo Amazon sales tax deal