Sales Tax Survey
I promised to post a bit more about sales tax – and maybe even throw in a little Fair Tax info to boot – later in the year. Before I get to it, I’d like to know: What is your sales tax rate and where are you located?
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Woman Sues – And Wins – Over Toilet Paper Tax
This is now my favorite tax story of 2007. A woman in my own state of Pennsylvania sued K-Mart – and won – for charging her sales tax on toilet paper. In Pennsylvania, toilet paper is considered a necessity and is not taxable. K-Mart offered to settle with the plaintiff, Mary Bach, providing that she…
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Sales Tax Versus State Income Tax
Every year about this time, I get a lot of questions about deducting sales tax paid versus state and local income tax paid on your federal income taxes. Mostly, this comes up because your pockets are stuffed with receipts and you’re wondering whether you should keep them. First, the important part: this option has been…
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Is Dark Chocolate Really More Of A Tax Burden?
I’m such a sucker for Milky Ways – especially the Milky Way Midnight (note to readers contemplating holiday gifts…). And Iowa has brought to the forefront an issue that I’ve been claiming for years: all candy bars are not created equal. Iowa has stirred up some serious candy tax controversy with its definitions of “candy”…
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Iowa Tax Department Is Scrooge For Halloween
When Iowa tax officials were looking for ways to increase revenue, they figured they would strike right at the heart of massive tax fraud: tax evasion on the sale of pumpkins. Maybe that’s a bit overstated. But there is a new policy in Iowa this year to tax pumpkins. The decision came after department officials…
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Cheaper Clothes In New York City?
As of Saturday, New York City shoppers got a break: they no longer have to pay city sales tax on clothes and shoes. Mayor Bloomberg proposed sales tax relief in June and it went into effect on September 1 – just in time for the Labor Day shopping weekend. The measure eliminates a 4% city…
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Shop Until You Drop
Or you hit your tax-free limit. Or your credit card bursts into flames. Or until your husband curls into a ball and refuses to go to the next store. You get my point. For many states this weekend, in order to boost back to school sales (which retailers claim are flagging),it’s a sales tax free…
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Ask The Taxgirl: Internet Sales
Today’s question was not emailed but asked in person at BlogHer! It was asked after my session, so I thought I’d post it for the benefit of everyone. Taxpayer asks: Do I have to pay sales tax on sales through my web site? Taxgirl says: This is such a loaded question. I’ll start off by…
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Massachusetts Takes A Holiday
Apparently, not to be outdone by other states with sales tax holidays for back to school, Massachusetts may create a holiday for all retail goods on purchases up to $2,500 during the second weekend in August (August 11-12). If you’re from Massachusetts, you may be experiencing a little deja vu all over again… Didn’t the…
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Sales Tax Takes A Holiday
Each year, several states offer a “holiday” from sales tax in order to increase spending before school begins. Here are some sales tax holidays that I’m aware of. As the mother of three children, I can appreciate this nod towards back to school spending. And according to the National Retail Federation, families with school-age children…