As Cabela’s makes a move to avoid the Maine sales tax on Internet and catalog sales, retailers contacted by the Current say they make a point of paying up.

Andy Charles, who owns Westbrook-based Haven’s Candies, said his business pays state sales tax for any item shipped in Maine. The firm sells candy in retail stores, through a catalog and over the Internet. Haven’s does about 5 percent of its business outside the state, said Charles.

“I would love to see Cabela’s come to Scarborough,” he said, “but if they get an extra break, that wouldn’t be equitable for the state.” Charles said he hopes Cabela’s still comes to Maine, but on a level playing field.

“We are not exempt from any state taxes,” said Mike Black, a spokesman for the Staples chain, which has a store in South Portland, but also sells through a catalog and on the Internet. Black said wherever a delivery is headed, the company pays those state taxes. “It applies to dot-com or to the catalog,” he said.

Tim Lyons, a spokesman for JC Penny Inc., which has a store in South Portland and also sells merchandise through a catalog and over the Internet, said the company pays local sales taxes wherever it has a physical presence. “We charge applicable sales tax in the local area where a customer resides,” he said.

“I didn’t realize state sales tax was optional,” said Chris Brown, vice president of operations for the Maine-based music store, Bull Moose.

“The law is pretty simple,” he said, “we pay sales tax on our orders within the state.” Bull Moose has a store in Scarborough, and also sells products over the Internet.

– Josh Harriman