# Whats your sales tax rate at restaurants? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283 "2013-08-03T23:11:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/1 "2013-08-03T23:11:09Z")
It seems like the sales tax is highest at restaurants. Our officials think the privilege of eating food prepared by other people is a luxury. :rolleyes: And of course they like to screw the tourists staying at motels and eating at restaurants. Not that I visit many restaurants filled with tourists. Restaurants here are full of hungry locals that don’t want to heat up their house cooking. July 1 we went up to 11% sales tax at restaurants. ☹ It was 3% when I was in junior high school in the 70’s. Somebody in 2043 will reminisce about it only being 11%. 😛 They’ll be paying 23% tax in 2043. Our state rate is 6.5% and then there is county, city and the restaurant tax to add in. Whats your city getting at restaurants? Retail stores? 11% and 9% for Little Rock. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/2 "2013-08-03T23:19:08Z")
In Thailand, sales tax – called Value-Added Tax (VAT) on the European model – is 7%. (It was briefly raised to 10% after the 1997 crash but lowered back to 7% after a few months.) But the practice varies. On many purchases, they don’t add VAT, as it’s already included in the price or maybe they aren’t even paying their taxes. But at fancier restaurants – defined pretty much as any that accept credit cards – they will tack on the 7% plus another 10% service charge. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/3 "2013-08-03T23:20:16Z")
The state sales tax in Ohio is 5.5%. Each county can add on from there. Most counties add 0.75-1.00%. There is no special additional “restaurant” tax that I am aware of. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/4 "2013-08-03T23:44:58Z")
> **[Sales taxes in the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States)** > > Sales taxes in the United States are taxes placed on the sale or lease of goods and services in the United States. Sales tax is governed at the state level and no national general sales tax exists. 45 states, the District of Columbia, the territories of Puerto Rico, and Guam impose general sales taxes that apply to the sale or lease of most goods and some services, and states also may levy selective sales taxes on the sale or lease of particular goods or services. States may grant local governme... That’s a good link for basic sales tax state-by-state with qite a bit of info on state-by-state restaurant taxes. Nice color chart about half way down. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/5 "2013-08-03T23:54:20Z")
Wikipedia hasn’t update Arkansas. It went to 6.5% July 1. [Sales tax by city in Arkansas](http://www.sale-tax.com/Arkansas). Not including the hospitality/restaurant tax which varies by city. The variance by city makes it nearly impossible to know what the tax is anymore. I can drive 35 miles from home and pay a different rate. I remember as a kid we knew the exact cost of a Coke, candy bar plus tax. I often only had that much pocket change on me. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/6 "2013-08-04T00:04:13Z")
In Australia it’s 10%,and it’s called a GST (goods and services tax). Almost everything you buy in Australia has that GST – there isn’t a special rate for restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/7 "2013-08-04T01:20:44Z")
There’s no additional sales tax for restaurants in New York State; it’s the same as at any retail establishment. Some cities have hotel taxes to sock it to visitors, but locals (who vote) also eat in restaurants and would object to any additional taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/8 "2013-08-04T01:28:52Z")
I pay 5%. In Canada, the federal GST is 5%. The province I live in (Saskatchewan) does not tax restaurant meals Municipalities don’t have the power to tax restaurant meals. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/9 "2013-08-04T01:48:46Z")
Our sales tax is the same at restaurants as if you were buying any other taxable item: 8½% ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/10 "2013-08-04T02:12:21Z")
If we choose to eat in a “nice” restaurant we go across the river to Oregon. They have no sales tax. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/11 "2013-08-04T02:34:32Z")
In Ohio, you get the standard sales tax if you eat at the restaurant, but takeout is exempt (except for soft drinks and booze). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/12 "2013-08-04T04:14:16Z")
Finally found something on our state’s restaurant tax. It’s already out of date. Little Rock is 11% now and North Little Rock 11.5% (adding .5 for the July 1 state increase). It’s quite the burden for the elderly that typically don’t cook anymore. Especially since they are on fixed incomes. I’d guess 60% of the people at the cafeteria I visit every week is a senior citizen. The rest of us are middle aged. The twenty somethings don’t seem interested in good home cooking at a cafeteria. > **[State restaurant tax among highest in U.S. | Arkansas Democrat Gazette](https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2012/may/21/side-tax/)** > > It has probably happened to you more than once: You examine your restaurant check and discover you’ve been charged for something you didn’t order. > [@](#): > > If you live in any one of Arkansas’ biggest restaurant markets, more than a tenth of your total restaurant food tab goes to pay state and local meal taxes — 10.5 percent in Little Rock, 11 percent in North Little Rock, 11.25 percent in Fayetteville and 11.625 percent in Hot Springs. > > The total restaurant tax in Little Rock is higher than it is in 47 of the country’s 50 biggest cities. It’s higher than diners pay in New York (8.875 percent), Los Angeles (8.75 percent), San Francisco (8.5 percent), Washington (10 percent), Memphis (9.25 percent) and Las Vegas (8.1 percent). ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/13 "2013-08-04T05:34:50Z")
In Spain it’s the reduced VAT for basic services, so a mere 10%. Regular VAT is currently at 21%. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/14 "2013-08-04T05:52:29Z")
I’m thinking of something else the elderly and middle aged like to do here in the States aside from eat at a cafeteria - vote as a bloc to get rid of something. You picking up what I’m laying down? ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/15 "2013-08-04T06:09:23Z")
Zero sales tax in Oregon, on food or anything else. Higher income tax, no sales taxes of any kind. ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/16 "2013-08-04T06:22:56Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I remember as a kid we knew the exact cost of a Coke, candy bar plus tax. I often only had that much pocket change on me. I’ve lived in two counties in New York. The current rate in both is 8% and I think it’s been that way since I was born. _Shakes cane_ When I was a kid, candy bars cost a quarter and tax was two cents. I don’t buy candy bars anymore, but I think the going rate is 79 cents which would make the tax 6 cents. Counties and cities can levy their own taxes, but until now I’ve never heard of a restaurant tax. Terrible practice in my opinion, but it doesn’t seem to be a result of state legislation. > [@](#): > > If you live in any one of Arkansas’ biggest restaurant markets Obviously county or city legislated, but I understand your frustration. Imagine how the restaurant owners feel. ---
**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 4, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/17 "2013-08-04T19:40:28Z")
In Quebec it is approximately 15%. Federal sales tax in 5% and Quebec adds 9.5% on the total after the federal tax is added. This is the general sales tax on all goods (food excepted, but not if the food is processed, e.g. rotisserie chicken) and services (going so far as including postage stamps and your plumbing bill). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/18 "2013-08-04T20:33:24Z")
6.1% in Milwaukee. 5% in Wisconsin + .1% in Milwaukee (and a few other counties) to pay for the baseball stadium + .5% in Milwaukee _on food_\* to pay for an exposition center, totaling 6.1%. Since in almost every situation that people are in the tax is 5.6%, a lot of people raise a stink when they see 6.1% on their receipts. I’ve had to explain this a handful of times over the years. FTR, if you just asked “What is your sales tax” the answer would be 5.6% around here. \*There’s other percentage taxes on other things such as hotel or car rental but this was about food. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/19 "2013-08-04T20:45:53Z")
[Downtown Chicago has a 10.75% restaurant tax](http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120227/NEWS0702/120229826/downtown-chicagos-restaurant-tax-is-highest-among-big-u-s-cities) though the cite is 18 months old. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283/20 "2013-08-04T21:02:55Z")
It’s 8.875% here, there’s no difference between a restaurant or buying something in a store, however there is no sales tax on clothing or shoes under $110. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-sales-tax-rate-at-restaurants/665283.md?page=2)