Amazon.com Inc. is offering to build at least two distribution centers and hire as many as 7,000 workers if lawmakers back away - at least temporarily - from trying to force the internet giant to collect sales taxes on purchases made by California customers. The proposal, along with promises to invest as much as $500m in the new facilities, was made in the form of draft legislation at a meeting between Amazon lobbyists and representatives of companies that belong to the California Retailers Association.
The retailers trade group and other supporters of California's effort to collect more than $300m a year in unpaid taxes on internet sales dismissed the Amazon compromise as a ploy.
