Nope.
Sellers can absorb sales tax in some states as well.
Bottom line, those who do it are the exception to the rule.
Absorbing sales tax isn't getting rid of sales tax. At the time of the transaction sales tax is owed to the gov't. If the store wants to pay that, great. But that's when the tax is owed, unless it's an out of state or non-profit order.
There is no tax owed to transfer points into miles. When AMEX/Chase/SPG buy miles in advance from domestic airlines they pay an excise tax. That has nothing to do with the time of your transfer transaction. AMEX is just passing along their purchase tax because they can.
