Comments on: Taking Advantage of Different State’s Sales Tax

By: sundae1888

sundae1888 — Fri, 30 May 2008 20:55:50 +0000

Hong Kong has no sales tax, period. The Hong Kong government is in a much better shape than any North American governments. Except during extreme economic downturns, the government routinely had surplus. However, the government considered implementing a sales tax a few times, but the execution is deemed too difficult, and there is a lot of resistances from various sectors.

In Canada, there is a 8% federal sales tax, and all provinces except Alberta have their own provincial sales tax.

In Japan and many European countries, the sales tax is included in the listed price.

By: dave

dave — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:52:58 +0000

In the US, certain non-profit organizations are given tax-exempt status. The proprietor must sell to these organizations without the additional sales tax. If it was rolled into the cost of the merchandise, this could not be done easily or reliably.

As far as the different states “being allowed” to charge different amounts, sales tax is a state function, not a federal function.

I’m not surprised that UK and Canada have higher sales tax – they also have socialized medical care, and a giant, intrusive governments. Personally, I’d rather just pay for good medical service than have everything taxed to pay for what the government considers “adequate” coverage. Thanks, but the waiting rooms at the doctor’s office and the ER are plenty long enough already.

By: Komodo Dragon

Komodo Dragon — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:16:13 +0000

I can’t believe the numbers I am hearing for sales tax!

By: Paul | UpperMoney.com

Paul | UpperMoney.com — Fri, 23 May 2008 23:00:59 +0000

6.75%? Ha, that’s nothing. Over here in the UK our sales tax (VAT) is 17.5%. In some parts of Europe it’s over 20%!

But then, we have to fund an even more bloated beaurocracy.

6.75% sounds like a dream!

By: Big Wizz

Big Wizz — Fri, 23 May 2008 18:09:28 +0000

@Emily,

It’s called Nike

By: Emily @ Taking Charge

Emily @ Taking Charge — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:21:31 +0000

Wow, I thought we had it bad in Texas at 8.25% sales tax…I can’t imagine paying 14-15%! That is a huge chunk of change. Then again, they have all their health care paid for by the government, so I guess it’s a trade-off. And I wonder how Oregon makes up for no sales tax — anybody know?

By: Michael Kwan

Michael Kwan — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:07:28 +0000

To my knowledge, Alberta has no provincial sales tax, but you are still responsible for GST (5%). AFAIK, Oregon has no sales tax at all.

By: Big Wizz

Big Wizz — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:15:30 +0000

Actually, I believe it’s tax law that you are responsible to record the difference is sales tax between your home state and the state the purchase is made in. You are supposed to reflect it on your yearly tax returns (or something along those lines. I know its a law for internet purchases w/out charging sales tax).

Of course, no one in the right mind would track all this, as the IRS doesn’t really enforce it anyways.