An ambiguous town tax code leaves room for misinterpretation and is the central issue that is at the heart of the lawsuit against online travel companies such as the Colorado Travel Company LLC, Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity and many others. The case name for the complaint is 2011CV420 Town of Breckenridge, Colorado vs Colorado Travel Company, LLC. The court jurisdiction is CO Summit County District Court 5th JD.
?We were under the impression that the main issue at hand was the tax discrepancy between the wholesale rate and the retail rate,? states Brandon Quinn from the Colorado Travel Company, who operates a Breckenridge Vacation site. ?We?ve proven to the Town of Breckenridge that we are in fact collecting and remitting the correct amount of tax to our lodging suppliers who then pay the town of Breckenridge the tax through a town business license. Now, the town is switching the interpretation of the tax code and telling us we are supposed to pay the tax directly to the town,? Brandon goes on to state.
Currently, online travel companies remit lodging tax to the lodging supplier who then pays the tax directly to the town.
?The entire industry is operating the way we conduct our tax remittance. This new method of remitting tax creates a nightmare for all involved because of the redirection in the bookkeeping for both online travel companies and our lodging partners,? continues Brandon.
According to Rothberger, Johnson & Lyons LLP, which is the law firm representing the Town of Breckenridge, they needed a Colorado travel company who operated in the State of Colorado in order to prevent the case from going to a federal level which takes years to finalize.
?They picked my company name out of a hat because it was a perfect fit. I never thought my business name ?Colorado Travel Company? would cause such a headache,? states Brandon.
Legal claims made all over the country aimed at online travel companies are cropping up all over the nation. Tax starved towns are in need of cash and are willing to pursue local, small businesses such as the Colorado Travel Company to subsidize the lack of funds.
?We?re just the little guy caught in a big net constructed by the town of Breckenridge so they can keep the lawsuit in-state,? says Heather Quinn, Co-owner of the Colorado Travel Company.
About the Colorado Travel Company:
The Colorado Travel Company specializes in travel to Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Durango, Keystone, Steamboat Springs, Telluride, Vail and Winter Park. The Colorado Travel Company sells various vacation components within each destination. These include: Breckenridge lodging deals, Breckenridge shuttle transportation and Breckenridge ski rentals and more.
Media Contact:
Brandon Quinn
970.393.3978
1451 24th Street
Denver, Colorado
80205
http://www.BreckenridgeColorado.travel
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