Would you be more likely to buy new gear out of state if there was no sales tax

No Tubro Tax does not ask or prompt for the subject of this thread. Again, I know know of no person doing such a thing. Seems our wonderful government has kept this a secret for the most part. It is an interesting subject.

Just did some reading and it seems this is a very confusing subject. It depends on the state etc..., but everything I read speaks of the retailer charging the tax. I could not find anything saying it is our responsibility to total up our purchases and somehow pay at tax time. 

Grannyring, since I don't use Turbo Tax, a question--are you referring just to Federal taxes?  This is a state tax issue.  My accountant's worksheet he sends me has a line item about out-of-state purchases for which I didn't pay tax, and my NJ returns had a spot for it and the detailed explanation and admission I mentioned in the tax form instructions.  Sure wasn't a secret there.

In fact someone I know bought furniture on line from an out of state vendor- spent 5 figures. Sure enough, about a year or so later he got a tax bill for use tax from his own state. Admittedly,,this is the first and only instance of such an occurrence I've heard of, but to doubters, technically, you buy in state, the vendor collects the tax and send it to,the state and if you buy out of state, you collect the tax for your home state and send it to your home state. 

I use Turbo Tax for state tax also. Must be different state to state.