Dark Horse said:Someone told me that if you buy from a website based in a different state you don't have to pay tax...but if I'm in California (where Apple is based) that doesn't help me...
If the online retailer has a physical place of in your state then you will be charged sales tax. Since Apple has stores across the country the only way to order from Apple and not be charged sales tax is to have the order shipped to a state that has no sales tax.
If you can order the computer from an online retailer that does not do business in California then you can avoid paying the sales tax. However, technically the law states that you are obligated to pay any sales tax owed on out of state purchases if the retailer does not collect the California sales tax.
I'm not a lawyer, etc, etc.