Show Your Support for the FET Slippage Bill

At the urging of the Archery Trade Association, H.R. 1494, the Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act, was officially introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier in the 119th Congress by Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Blake Moore. We now need your help to get it across the finish line before this Congress adjourns at the end of this year.

This bipartisan legislation delivers a critical fix to both the archery and fishing industry's Federal Excise Tax (FET) slippage problem. It requires internet marketplace facilitators, like Amazon and others, to collect and remit the required FETs on imported archery and sportfishing products sold through their platforms to U.S. customers. This is a commonsense, targeted reform that levels the playing field for American businesses.

As you know, FET slippage is one of ATA's top legislative priorities. It describes the loss of federal excise tax revenue that occurs when foreign manufacturers sell directly to U.S. consumers through online marketplaces, bypassing the tax obligations that domestic manufacturers and retailers must meet. The result: foreign sellers gain an unfair competitive advantage, and vital conservation programs lose critical funding.

The stakes are significant. FET slippage may account for the loss of more than $17 million annually in federal excise tax revenues, dollars that would otherwise be distributed through the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Programs, to fish and wildlife conservation in all 50 states.

ATA and the American Sportfishing Association have worked hard to build the foundation for this legislation. In its August 2024 report, the Government Accountability Office validated the FET slippage problem and recommended a legislative remedy in "Excise Taxes – Action Needed to Improve Compliance for Sport Fishing and Archery Imports." Those findings remain highly relevant and critical to building support for H.R. 1494, which responds directly to the report.

We are urging you to take two minutes right now to contact your U.S. Representative and ask them to support H.R. 1494.

Time matters. Congress has a limited number of working days remaining in this session, and we need to build as much momentum as possible. Every message from a constituent makes a real difference. Please click here to send a personalized message to your representative today.

Thank you in advance for lending your voice to this important campaign. Together, we can protect our industry, support American businesses, and preserve the conservation funding that hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts depend on.