Law-Abiding Virginians Already Taxed for Internet Purchases

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I am puzzled at the furor over taxes on the Internet ("Taxes that could crash the Internet," Commentary, Nov. 7). Guess what: The Internet (that is, goods and services bought on line) already is taxed.

As a resident of Virginia, each year when I file my income tax return, I am required to pay a consumer's use tax on goods I bought "from businesses that did not charge sales tax." Essentially, this is a tax on mail-order items. When I buy from Amazon.com or E-Bay, I am not charged a sales tax, so I must pay the Consumer's Use tax for those things, as well.

Page 2 of the 1998 Virginia Tax Forms booklet states: "Remember, if you purchased more than $100 in goods …