The Printing Industries of America (PIA), co-founder of the Direct Mail Industry Group, today announced that two Interpretive Ruling Requests were filed October 13 with the SSTA Governing Board. The Requests seek to clarify definitions for direct mail and delivery charges under the SSTA. Included with the Requests were drafts of the Proposed Rules outlining the suggested interpretations. The Proposed Rules have been reviewed by numerous businesses of all sizes in the printing, mailing, advertising, and direct mail marketing industries. In particular, there has been active participation in the development of these rules by small businesses and local affiliates of the Printing Industries of America who have been impacted most heavily by the direct mail provisions in the SSTA. The coalition’s primary goal is to establish workable rules derived from an understanding of the industry that are consistent with historical sales tax principles and existing contract law. The group submitted the rulings sixty days in advance of the December Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board Meeting to meet SSTA submission rules and to provide for a sufficient public comment period. The expectation is that both rules will be added to the December agenda. The SST Compliance Review and Interpretations Committee (CRIC) is scheduled to discuss the group’s Interpretive Ruling Requests in a November telephone-conference meeting. After consideration of the Requests and public comments, CRIC will forward its response and recommendations to the Board. A vote on the Proposed Rules is expected to take place at the next Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board meeting in Seattle December 13–14, 2006. “Providing the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board, CRIC, and those in the industry ample time to review and comment on the interpretive rulings will be critical in having all involved parties understand the issue. Public comments already expected this week will heavily weigh-in as the board considers the issuance of the Rules for the direct mail definitions and delivery charges,” said Michael Makin, President and CEO of PIA/GATF.