Tax Not Included... Except for me, because I'm special!

[KingsIslander]

Is it just me, or are guests almost totally unable to read any signs? At my food location, "Tax Not Included" is printed at the bottom of every single menu board, and yet we still get guests who argue that we are overcharging them. Of course, they also are seemingly unable to read the "Order Here" and "Pick Up Here" signs, so I shouldn't be surprised. I'll also occasionally get guests who ask how much something is. It's on a menu board right above their head. If I look it up, I need to put it in, subtotal it, then void it, print the void, and fill out the void envelope. Usually during this process the guest gets mad that I'm taking so long. Would have been easier if they had just read the menu, wouldn't it? But noooooo....

[hobie16]

Do you ever get the ones who say I don't have to pay sales tax because I live in (state) and there is no sales tax?

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Do you ever get the ones who say I don't have to pay sales tax because I live in (state) and there is no sales tax?

perfect opening for the line: "You are not in Kansas anymore!":cool:

[darph nader]

Do you ever get the ones who say I don't have to pay sales tax because I live in (state) and there is no sales tax?

Used to get this at a place I worked a few years ago. "I have a 'resale' #,I don't pay tax."
(me/us) "Sorry,but this is a 'rental' tax,not resale tax".
Worst one is a local theater who was charging Cali sale tax on popcorn and stuff/like/that/there. You can't go to the movies w/o popcorn,and the gal tells me, "That will be X# of money." I told her "No Way". "Well sir,we are based out of California and we charge California tax." I told her,"Well this is Arizona and you can keep your popcorn and sodas." We walked away. :mad:

[CptnSkippy]

Two years ago we changed software programs at the university, so now it shows the break down of the parking permit vs. the tax.

There was a day long email discussion on why should they have to pay tax, since the University was Tax Exempt.

It was extremely difficult for them to understand the concept UNIVERSITY is tax exempt, YOU are not.

So difficult, that we got to do it again last August. I'm sure we'll do it again in a couple of months, too.

[delsdad]

Used to get this at a place I worked a few years ago. "I have a 'resale' #,I don't pay tax."
(me/us) "Sorry,but this is a 'rental' tax,not resale tax".
Worst one is a local theater who was charging Cali sale tax on popcorn and stuff/like/that/there. You can't go to the movies w/o popcorn,and the gal tells me, "That will be X# of money." I told her "No Way". "Well sir,we are based out of California and we charge California tax." I told her,"Well this is Arizona and you can keep your popcorn and sodas." We walked away. :mad:

Wouldn't that be illegal, to collect a tax for another state, on a product which is neither shipped from or to that other state? Almost seems like fraud to me! Sounds lie someone is too cheap to reprogram their registers for the AZ locations.

We have a special situation here in that status native Indians do not pay sales tax. Its a pain in the but for the cashiers, and the business. bassically all they must do is show their status card to get no tax. Its the law. but few businesses are set up to deal with it. back in the 80's, when I last touched a cash register, all we did was use a tax exempt button on the till, and write the treaty number on the journal tape. Fairly easy. Now, when I have seen them do it at the stores, they have forms to fill oout, and if it is a young cashier, or immigrant - the confusion can tie up the register for 20 minutes. In the city no one bothers to train their staff on dealing with a native status card. In communities near the reservations, it is an everyday situation for those working cash, so it is handled well, and discretely.

Do US Native Indians get the same sort of tax exempt status?

[turkeyham]

Last summer, I was working on the cart. At the vending carts we add taxes to the final price you see on the menu. 2 girls walked up to my cart and wanted to pay less for the items. I told them, I don't make the prices, Disneyland does. One of the gals said she lives in Las Vegas and does not pay extra taxes on the food. I told her that she was not in NV and CA does add taxes. :mad:

[CujoSR]

I got that all the time when I worked there.

[hobie16]

Do US Native Indians get the same sort of tax exempt status?
They don't need it. They're all millionaires from running the casinos. :D:

[Main Streeter]

They don't need it. They're all millionaires from running the casinos. :D:
Not hobie. They wish! Hardly any actual status Native American's in O C or L A cuz they all have inter tribal fights. It's is a real mess! Very few Ca. tribes are actually Fed. Recognized. Big diff. btwn BIA # & Fed Rec. Pala is abt the only tribe to have cashed in in a positive way. IMHO.

[hobie16]

Not hobie. They wish! Hardly any actual status Native American's in O C or L A cuz they all have inter tribal fights. It's is a real mess! Very few Ca. tribes are actually Fed. Recognized. Big diff. btwn BIA # & Fed Rec. Pala is abt the only tribe to have cashed in in a positive way. IMHO.
That's why I added the :D:.

From what little I've read about the Indian casinos it appears very few tribes have actually cashed in on them. And those that have are, in reality, absentee landlords who turned the actual operations over to traditional casino companies who pay the tribes a percentage of the profits to use their name and legal classification. The real money is made by the operators.

[Main Streeter]

That's why I added the :D:.

From what little I've read about the Indian casinos it appears very few tribes have actually cashed in on them. And those that have are, in reality, absentee landlords who turned the actual operations over to traditional casino companies who pay the tribes a percentage of the profits to use their name and legal classification. The real money is made by the operators.
You are right on target hobie. :cool: We live near a N A group which is split into 3 & sometimes 4 factions. Very frustrating, especially when they call & offer you a BIA # because the need members. :(

[felinefan]

If you have an EBT (food stamp) card here in CA, you don't pay sales taxes on purchases made with it. Of course, you can only buy food with it, though I was told that if you talk to the right person, you can also buy bus passes with them. That doesn't sound right to me. Crazy thing is, in Orange County, you can't use EBT to buy food at a fast food place, but you can in L.A. County. As for the Native Americans, why don't they come up with a similar card, with their number on it so they can run it through a reader?

As for those other people, sounds as if --oh, crap, my memory is shot again-- Leona Helmsley!--has cloned herself. "Only the little people pay taxes!" Somehow, I don't think the Little People of America are going to like that. I'm amazed they didn't say something back when she said that.:p:

[darph nader]

In Az,we don't pay taxes on 'regular' food (non-prepared) or scrips. You also can't buy prepared food with food stamps. (ie,sandwichs and such)

[Shorty82]

In Az,we don't pay taxes on 'regular' food (non-prepared) or scrips. You also can't buy prepared food with food stamps. (ie,sandwichs and such)

Florida is the same way. No tax on grocery items (non-prepared food items) and no prepared food with food stamps.

[delsdad]

Florida is the same way. No tax on grocery items (non-prepared food items) and no prepared food with food stamps.

Same here in Ontario. No tax on groceries, but there is tax on snacks. therefore, if you buy 5 donuts, you pay tax because they are a snack item. Buy 6 or 12 and pay no tax because its now groceries.

Out provincial sales tax and federal goods and services tax are about to be combined here. It will make taxable a bunch of items that formerly were subject to only the GST. On some items it will mean a sudden 13% tax is being applied come July.

[delsdad]

You are right on target hobie. :cool: We live near a N A group which is split into 3 & sometimes 4 factions. Very frustrating, especially when they call & offer you a BIA # because the need members. :(

What is a BIA# and the N A group?

[hobie16]

Same here in Ontario. No tax on groceries, but there is tax on snacks. therefore, if you buy 5 donuts, you pay tax because they are a snack item. Buy 6 or 12 and pay no tax because its now groceries.
I'd live at Krispy Cream. :eek:

[delsdad]

I'd live at Krispy Cream. :eek:

Krispy Creme pulled out of Canada. They did not stand a chance against Tim Hortons.

And the geniuses at city hall are trying to find a way to apply a city tax to all junk food. How they will define it remains to be seen, but our do gooders at city hall will find a way!

[turkeyham]

I only know where 1 crispy creme is and that is at the Block. Ok, a mall about 2 miles from Disneyland. But the doughnuts are soo exspensive. Over $1.99 for a over sweetened doughnut. The best that I have tasted us in Long Beach. It is called Rossmoor Pastries. Off of Redondo and Spring Street. I believe the doughnuts are still 50 cents. ;)

[Zazu]

What is a BIA# and the N A group?

BIA# = Bureau of Indian Affairs ID number

N A group = Native American group (Newspeak for "tribe")

[hobie16]

How about Voodoo Donuts! (http://voodoodoughnut.com/)

[Ms. Matterhorn]

I only know where 1 crispy creme is and that is at the Block. Ok, a mall about 2 miles from Disneyland. But the doughnuts are soo exspensive. Over $1.99 for a over sweetened doughnut. The best that I have tasted us in Long Beach. It is called Rossmoor Pastries. Off of Redondo and Spring Street. I believe the doughnuts are still 50 cents. ;)

I remember Rossmoor Pastries when they were in Rossmoor! Didn't know they were still around. Their brownies were the best!

[turkeyham]

Rossmoor Pastries were across from Albertson's. They are still around and every item that they sell is fresh and yummy. :)

[Rob562]

Florida is the same way. No tax on grocery items (non-prepared food items) and no prepared food with food stamps.

Here in Mass, groceries have no tax.

State sales tax was bumped from 5% up to 6.25% last year, and they allowed local towns to add up to 0.75% more on prepared food. So some places you're paying 6.25%, others are 7%.

But because we don't have tax on clothing (and I assume shoes fall under that), my family always does a lot of their clothes shopping when they visit from Virginia. ;)

Some people drive across the border into tax-free New Hampshire for big purchases, but technically you're still supposed pay the "use tax" on those items when filing you state tax return, though almost noone does it.
There was a time where someone in the Mass state gov't tried to get NH tire & auto stores to collect Mass tax on tire purchases when the tires were installed onto cars with Mass plates. That didn't happen...

-Rob

[Cranbiz]

Here in Mass, groceries have no tax.

State sales tax was bumped from 5% up to 6.25% last year, and they allowed local towns to add up to 0.75% more on prepared food. So some places you're paying 6.25%, others are 7%.

But because we don't have tax on clothing (and I assume shoes fall under that), my family always does a lot of their clothes shopping when they visit from Virginia. ;)

Some people drive across the border into tax-free New Hampshire for big purchases, but technically you're still supposed pay the "use tax" on those items when filing you state tax return, though almost noone does it.
There was a time where someone in the Mass state gov't tried to get NH tire & auto stores to collect Mass tax on tire purchases when the tires were installed onto cars with Mass plates. That didn't happen...

-Rob

And people wonder why I left MA 6.25%-7% sales tax, State income tax (did they ever eliminate the .5% temporary surtax?) and a liberal democrat gov who decided to tax those who don't have state approved health insurance. Not to mention high property taxes and snow.

[Mayonnaise]

On my New York State Tax return, they ask me to report anything I bought over the internet or out of state that didn't have sales tax, and pay NYS the sales task then.

We don't tax groceries here either, but we do tax restaurant food. Foodstamps are only good on groceries... but I don't know having never been on them, if there's any restriction there... they might be able to get prepared food from the in-supermarket counters with them.

I'm not sure if we tax non-restaurant packaged prepared foods, like those vacuum sealed sandwiches from convenient stores.

8^|

[Mad Maxx]

On my New York State Tax return, they ask me to report anything I bought over the internet or out of state that didn't have sales tax, and pay NYS the sales task then.


CA does the same thing.

I remember there being something back east a while ago where Amazon was going to be made to charge Sales Tax on items sold to one state. They argued they had no operation in the state. State said that they had Amazon Affiliates in that State and they qualified as doing business in that State, so pay up/ Amazon responded by cutting off all Affiliates in that state and sent them a letter saying that the state legislature did it to them when they wanted to start charging sales tax on items due to their affiliate status. Never did hear how that resolved...

[Cheshire Figment]

For years DC has had the lowest liquor taxes in the country (because Congress is there) while the surrounding states were fairly high. Pennsylvania was so high that people would drive all the way to DC and go to one of the larger retail stores there prices were very low.

The PA tax people would stake out one of the stores occasionally and look for cars with PA tag that were loading several cases into the car. They would then tail them all the way through Maryland ind into PA and then bust them. Confiscate everything and then take action to confiscate the car also.

[hrcollectibles]

I was standing inline at a Sweet Tomatoes. The Stupid Guest that was in front of me asked the cashier why she had to pay sales tax on her dinner. Her reasoning... She doesn't have to pay tax on food items at the grocery store so why does she have to pay tax at a salad bar :confused: Umm has this person never checked their receipt at a restaurant? Last time I checked anytime you dine anywhere you pay tax