Georgia House bill could make it more costly for riders to use Uber, Lyft
A bill that passed the Georgia House late Friday would make it more costly for those in Georgia who use the popular ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft by charging them sales tax on the transaction.
House Bill 22 passed after it came up for a second vote and now moves to the Senate, where it faces a committee hearing before it can be voted on by the Senate.
The bill would require companies like Uber and Lyft to collect sales tax, something they dont currently do. Supporters of the legislation contend that taxi and limousine companies in Georgia are required to collect sales tax. In Columbus, that would add 8 percent to an Uber ride. For a $20 ride, it would add an additional $1.60.
After first voting down and rejecting a high tax on every Uber ride in the state of Georgia, the House reversed course and passed the tax hike forcing seniors to pay more for rides to their doctors, students to pay more for safe rides home late at night, and commuters to pay more for rides to work, said Uber spokeswoman Evangeline George. This tax is wildly out of step with how ride sharing is governed across the United States. As this legislation moves to the Senate, we urge senators to protect the hard-earned money of their constituents and work to create a solution that makes sense for Georgians.
Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/politics-government/article136752328.html