The burden of state sales tax continues to plague Amazon. Groups of states hold Amazon to different standards when it comes to collecting the tax. While some disagreements end amicably — such as the company’s January deal with Indiana that it will have to start collecting state sales tax in 2014 — other states are a bit more confrontational.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Arizona billed Amazon for $53 million in uncollected state sales tax from 2006 to 2010. Amazon reps say the invoice, sent in November, is bogus. Arizona’s invoice echoes a similar maneuver by Texas, which hit Amazon up for $269 million. Amazon’s reaction? Shutting down a Dallas warehouse.

At some point it would be helpful for all parties if online retailers and state governments worked out a uniform way to handle the state tax issue. Don’t count on that happening any time soon.

Arizona to Amazon: About That Sales Tax… [The Wall Street Journal]

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