My state has required people making such purchases to pay "use tax" when doing their annual state tax return, although the majority do not. I had planned on depreciating part of the purchase price of a new zero-turn mower ( my house contains a rental apartment ) until my tax preparer said I would have to pay the use tax on it ( $650 ). Also, for purchases under $1000 in a year, I could use a table based on taxable income to pay the use tax, but if more than $1000 in such purchases is made in a year, the state rate of 6% must be paid on them all. I do a lot of on-line buying because most of the items I buy are not available here. I did find a site on-line that says big-ticket items are what states usually pursue in trying to recoup lost tax revenues, but is there any way of their tracking my on-line purchases?

They can only find out if the vendor notifies them.