Colorado Affiliates Eligible for Amazon Associates Program Again

As of February 3, 2016, Amazon is once again allowing Colorado affiliates to apply for their Associates Program. The change was made to their operating agreement “Effective February 3” but states that it applied started February 1.

Amazon had previously dropped all of its Colorado affiliates in March 2010 after the Colorado legislature passed a tax law that implicated out-of-state retailers. A change in Amazon’s practices rather than a change in the law resulted in the decision to allow the Colorado affiliates back into the program. Amazon began collecting sales tax on purchases sent to Colorado addresses starting this week. Affiliate marketing veterans such as Jen Goode of 101 Directions have already reported having their applications re-approved.

Though it’s not a win for internet sales tax reform, this is still positive news for the performance marketing industry. Amazon’s willingness to collect and pay sales taxes in order to (among other things, presumably) bring back affiliates from Colorado highlights the importance of their referral program and the value they place on their affiliate partnerships.

Despite efforts from the PMA and other organizations towards internet sales tax reform, the battle remains a state-by-state struggle. For up-to-date information on how nexus laws are affecting affiliates in each state, click here.