A powerful coalition of retail store owners, shopping centres and local government officials is pressing the US Congress to rewrite US sales tax laws.

They want to ensure that Internet retailers are forced to pay the same sales taxes that apply to traditional stores. If they succeed, it could be the clearest sign that the long honeymoon between the high-tech economy and Congress is finally over.

In 1998, Congress ruled that there would be no new online taxes until 2001. The House of Representatives has extended that moratorium until 2006.