Legislation that would mandate most Internet sellers collect sales tax will be reintroduced this year in both houses of Congress, according the office of one of the bill’s sponsors, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.).

“Senator Durbin will join Senators [Mike] Enzi and [Lamar] Alexander in reintroducing the Marketplace Fairness Act this year, likely within the first two weeks of February,” Durbin’s spokeswoman, Christina Mulka, tells JCK. “The House of Representatives will also be introducing companion legislation. The momentum is growing for this legislation and Senator Durbin is committed to getting it done next Congress.”

An effort to pass legislation on this issue during the lame-duck session failed, reports say.

Even so, supporters have expressed increasing confidence that a bill on this issue will pass, with Jewelers of America’s legislative counsel saying “it’s no longer a matter of if, but when.”

JCK