# How much combined sales tax do you pay? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 18, 2019, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835 "2019-08-18T10:45:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/21 "2019-08-18T20:30:05Z")
New Jersey (NJ) currently has the silly\* tax rate of 6.625%. We have no local sales tax, only state by NJ law. We also have sections of NJ were declared Urban Enterprise Zones. There the tax rate is 3.3125%, this reduction is to help some inner-city areas. It does not apply to luxury items like furs, jewelry, boats and big ticket items like cars. We don’t have sales tax on most food and clothing. - I only say silly, as I use to calculate the tax in my head and now I can’t. In fairness I’m sure this affects almost no one. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/22 "2019-08-18T20:31:56Z")
South Georgia here- 4% state, 4% county. County was 3% 'til last year. The new 1% is a multi-county local option sales tax for roads and the state highway I live on got paved this summer. I also got a turn-in added. Georgia took sales tax off of prescriptions and food back in the 90s, but they let the counties still apply their local sales taxes. I always thought this was quite the wrong thing to let the counties do. ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/23 "2019-08-18T20:38:21Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > New York has a 4% state tax and a 4% local tax. New York City adds an extra 0.5%. > > So it’s 8-8.5% overall. In Nassau County, just outside NYC, it’s 4% state plus 4.25% county plus 0.375% for the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, so 8.625% total. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/24 "2019-08-18T20:53:49Z")
9% on meals and hotel rooms, 0% on everything else. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/25 "2019-08-18T21:01:59Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > 9% on meals and hotel rooms, 0% on everything else. Is that New Hampshire? You didn’t say and I’m going on your location. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/26 "2019-08-18T21:10:06Z")
Another 0%-er. Someone pumps my gas for me and I dont have to pay any sales tax on it! ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/27 "2019-08-18T21:29:04Z")
> [@Grim\_Render](#): > > Generally, VAT do not act like a tax and we do not call it a tax. VAT= Value Added Tax, so… yes you kinda do 😉 The English rules on what qualifies for VAT are pretty arcane; take fast food, for example. Sell a takeaway pasty that’s hot because it’s fresh out of the oven, to someone planning to eat it off the premises and it’s not taxed. If they eat it on the premises, VAT applies. Reheat it, or keep it deliberately hot, and it’s VAT liable even if eaten outside. If you visit a UK bakery with tables, that’s why the ‘eat in’ price is different to the ‘take away’ price for some, but not all items, for anyone who’s visited and wondered. It’s not the shop charging a fee for you to sit down, it’s the VAT. And yes, if you’re wondering, this is damn near impossible to police. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/28 "2019-08-18T21:29:28Z")
In my city combined taxes are 9.15% ---
**Author:** ![Grim\_Render](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@Grim\_Render](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Render)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/29 "2019-08-18T21:38:41Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > VAT= Value Added Tax, so… yes you kinda do 😉 Actually, we call it “Merverdiavgift (mva)” It just doesn’t act like I as a tax payer and not a business see a tax acting. Not subtracted from my wages, but based on how much I buy, and what I buy. The word “avgift” seem to cover it much better. I am not sure if there is a specific word in english that covers that. Translations sugget it covers “fee, toll, charge, excise or poundage”. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/30 "2019-08-18T21:39:56Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > 6% in Michigan. Yep, me too. I wish they’d raise it to 9% to fund schools even more. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/31 "2019-08-18T21:56:14Z")
13% in Ontario: 5% is federal Goods and Service Tax (GST) and 8% is Ontario provincial tax. Most grocery (food) items are tax-free. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/32 "2019-08-18T22:15:06Z")
Pennsylvania sales tax is 6%. Allegheny County (Pittsburgh and the surrounding area) has a 1 percent local tax added to that, and Philadelphia has a 2 percent local tax. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/33 "2019-08-18T22:29:58Z")
A hair under 15% in Quebec. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/34 "2019-08-18T23:09:49Z")
I believe 6% state-wide and 1% RAT (regional asset tax) locally. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/35 "2019-08-19T03:45:43Z")
Wisconsin has 5% plus most counties have another .5% and certain areas have a special 1/10% on top of that for special fees such as professional sports venues. Municipalities cannot charge a local general sales tax. Highest area is 5.6% and the lowest is 5%. Hotels and restaurants are allowed an entertainment (tourist) area add-on. Vehicles are taxed at the rate of the county of residence of the purchaser not of the sellers location. Most prepare at home foods have no sales tax. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/36 "2019-08-19T03:45:51Z")
> [@Grim\_Render](#): > > Actually, we call it “Merverdiavgift (mva)” > > It just doesn’t act like I as a tax payer and not a business see a tax acting. Not subtracted from my wages, but based on how much I buy, and what I buy. The word “avgift” seem to cover it much better. I am not sure if there is a specific word in english that covers that. Translations sugget it covers “fee, toll, charge, excise or poundage”. I think the English word is “tax”. 🙂 > [@](#): > > Not subtracted from my wages, but based on how much I buy, and what I buy. Less snarkily, “Merverdiavgift” sounds like a sales tax and not an income tax. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/37 "2019-08-19T05:19:19Z")
7%, if you’re in the county that got “volunteered” to pay for the new football stadium. But no tax on groceries or clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Grim\_Render](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@Grim\_Render](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Render)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/38 "2019-08-19T09:56:18Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > I think the English word is “tax”. 🙂 > > Less snarkily, “Merverdiavgift” sounds like a sales tax and not an income tax. “Tax” is not among the translations the dictionary gives. Its probably confusing that it got saddled with the inaccurate name in English. If it had been named “Value Added Fee” or “Value Added Charge” from the start it would have been more in line. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/39 "2019-08-19T10:17:53Z")
> [@Grim\_Render](#): > > “Tax” is not among the translations the dictionary gives. Its probably confusing that it got saddled with the inaccurate name in English. If it had been named “Value Added Fee” or “Value Added Charge” from the start it would have been more in line. Then you need to get a better dictionary. VAT is a tax, plain and simple, and it operates similarly to sales taxes in other jurisdictions. Many of the “quirks” you describe (such as the fact that it is not subtracted from your income, and that certain goods and services are partially or fully exempt) are by no means unusual. You seem to be arguing that the word “tax” should apply only to income tax and not to other forms of taxation. Perhaps this may be true in Norwegian (at least for a certain Norwegian word you may thinking of), but it’s certainly not true in English. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835/40 "2019-08-19T10:29:45Z")
Grew up with 5% in MD. There was no local/county addition. Now pay 7something total in Ohio. Ohio has way too many local taxes that are almost impossible to even know about. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-combined-sales-tax-do-you-pay/838835.md?page=3)