Five of the Weirdest Sales Taxes in the U.S.
- Posted on January 16, 2012 at 6:29pm by
Becket Adams
- Print »
- Email »
Because the U.S. economy is still dragging its feet and consumer spending is down, some states are rediscovering “crafty” ways to generate revenue via obscure sales taxes. And this is nothing new. People have been dealing with dubious but “all-too enforceable government laws,” as Brian O’Connell of Financial Edge put it, for a long, long time.
“In ancient Egypt, the pharaohs taxed cooking oil – of course, the main seller of cooking oil was the pharaoh. During the first century AD, the Roman empire taxed urine – a popular source of ammonia for common tasks like tanning hides and cleaning clothes,” writes O’Connell. “Then at the height of the Dark Ages (an era in European history notorious for its poor hygiene), some European governments taxed the sale of soap!”
Yet, despite being supposedly more “enlightened” than the Dark Ages, 21st century governments still have the ability to levy (and enforce) highly questionable and oftentimes unreasonable taxes on the masses.
What are some of the dubious sales taxes? Here are the top five weirdest examples in the U.S. (all information in block quotes via Financial Edge):
Food Packaging Tax
States like Colorado have a weird definition of what constitutes food packaging. In using the term “essential” in its tax language for such commodities, Colorado finds itself in the strange position of taxing paper cup lids and napkins, but not paper cups or fast-food French fry containers.
Hot Air Balloon Tax
If you’re in Kansas and in the mood to take a ride in a hot air balloon, beware of the state government’s “amusement” tax.
State regulation makes balloon rides taxable. But there is a caveat – only balloon rides that are tied, or tethered to the ground, are considered taxable. So, if you want to avoid paying taxes when taking a balloon ride over Topeka, make sure to leave the rope at home!
New York’s Crazy Bagel Tax
New York State has an interesting way of handling bagels – and taxes on buying bagels. If you want to eat a bagel tax-free, don’t have the deli counter “prepare” it for you (i.e., add cream cheese or cut the bagel in two pieces). Prepare that bagel yourself, and you don’t have to pay a tax on it.
But there’s more to it than that.
Apparently, if the deli worker “doesn’t slice the plain bagel, but you opt to eat it in the deli, the food preparation tax also applies, even though no preparation was required of the food,” writes conservative author Mark Steyn.
“Got that? If you own a deli, you better have, because New York is so broke they need their nine cents per sliced bagel and their bagel inspectors are cracking down,” Steyn adds.
Wet Fuse
In West Virginia, celebrating the Fourth of July – or any celebration where fireworks are used, can lighten your wallet. The state has a special tax – on top of its 6 percent sales tax – on things like ladyfingers and sparklers.
Fruit Tax
California has gone bananas over the purchase of fruit by consumers. If you buy an apple from a regular retailer, you’re in good shape, as the purchase is tax-exempt. If you buy fruit from a vending machine – and who hasn’t done that – you’ll pay an additional 33 percent on the amount of the purchase.
The “above taxes certainly aren’t the only taxes on statewide level, but they are surely among the most unique,” writes O’Connell.
(h/t Business Insider)
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 689 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 473 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 375 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 335 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 318 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 310 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 318 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 218 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 310 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (149)
Mr Galt
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 10:50pmI’ve got the solution to all our financial problems:
A stupid tax.
Report Post »longun45
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 11:28pmOH,
Report Post »you mean democrats.
JJ Coolay
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:06amIsn’t this why the colonialists left England 300 years ago?
Report Post »King George’s taxes.
sane_man
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:43amUh yeah… because Republicans have never instituted, supported, or raised taxes. C’mon.
Report Post »notreally
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:45amAs in “tax something and you’ll get less of it”? Won’t work with socialists — I mean demcrats. They’re born stupid:
-10/28/10 NBC news: University of California at Davis and Harvard University find “Liberal Gene” as partial answer as to why liberals think the way.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:23am@sane…
Report Post »“never?”
Well, fortunately, we do not have time travel machines, and we only have to vote for the CURRENT platform. Besides, finger pointing is childish at best.
What would you say to your son who was breaking street lights when his excuse was, “Jimmy did it too?”
PlowMan
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:26amYeah your right, but who decides whom is stupid? You know Newsweek thinks Obama detractors are stupid.
Report Post »homeyd77
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:39am@SANE_MAN – Republicans, the party of “no”, votes against tax increases a lot more than you may think. The National Taxpayers Union rates each member of congress by their “taxpayer friendly” voting records, good or bad… http://www.ntu.org/on-capitol-hill/ntu-rates-congress/
Report Post »JRook
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:47am@longun45 No I believe it would be the Palin/Bachmann tax.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:54amWhy is it that Republicans claim to reduce taxes, yet increase fees and fines on everything to produce government revenue. The issue should not be how the government obtains its money, but how much they suck out of the economy. Reagan was the individual who taught Republicans how to appear to decrease taxes by reducing income tax rates, while at the same time eliminating deductions and increasing fees. The net result is a disproportionate burden on the low and middle class. For all the individuals here who quote the nonsense the 48% of people do not pay any taxes…you are either are ignorant by nature or you work hard at it. Gas taxes, utility taxes, cigarette taxes, tariffs, car license fees, car registration fees, etc. etc. When you add them all up you have the low and middle class left with disproportionately less disposable income. Which is the number one reason the economy is struggling as they are the main source of demand. And it is demand that creates jobs, not the wealthy.
Report Post »pavnvet
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:08amSome of the replies to the OP’s comments highlight just how much money would be collected by a stupid tax.
Report Post »ICanComment
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:53am@JROOK (but not especially JROOK in particular)
“D,“ ”R,” it’s just about all the same these days. Stupid is as stupid does. :-)
I’d argue that the majority of politicians from both sides would probably fall prey to the stupid tax, if actions are the means by which “stupid” is quantified. If any of us blindly pulls the “D” or “R” lever anymore, we might just get hit with the “stupid” tax ourselves!
(Now, the relative ratio of D to R stupid tax eligibility, or RRDRSTE may be what was meant by some posts.)
Report Post »Jaredglade
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 12:04amThey already have that. It’s called the state lottery.
Report Post »robertsgal
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:47amHow many of you have read Throw Them All Out? The book only critiques this administration, but ALL politicians are GUILTY of GREED. Find ONE that TRULY BELIEVES in the FREEDOMS that our founding fathers fought so hard to LEGALLY pass on to each and every one of us and I’m sure that person would be our next president and all the lying and passing the buck would stop. Unfortunately there isn’t one out there that meets this criteria. AND it’s worse on the local level. Nickel and dime us to death anyway they can!
Report Post »Protoham
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 1:07pmIn Maryland we just got a new tax on Beer and Alcohol. 3% alcohol tax on top of a 6% sales tax. So you want a beer it will cost you an extra 9%.
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 10:45pmflat tax………………………PLEASE
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 10:20pmHere in IL we have a amusement tax on everything from going to the movies to a concert.. ANY way in which you could as a taxpayer TRY to enjoy yourself they will and do tax you.. the government doesn’t even allow taxpayers to enjoy what is LEFT of our money without TAXING our leisure time activities.It’s like we are not allowed to spend our money on ourselves.. if we do the GOVERNMENT here taxes us..
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:57amIf you drive a car, I’ll tax the street,
Report Post »If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet.
ICanComment
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 12:05pmWipe that smile off your face. No amusement allowed.
Report Post »Allen Booth
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:25pmWhat about sexual activity? Either with yourself or someone else?
Report Post »BenFrank1791
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 10:13pmhmmmm… with a 33-percent special tax on fruit you’d think California would be financially solvent.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 10:33pmGovernment has only one intention: Take your money and make it theirs. Period. Insane taxes are part and parcel of that intention.
Report Post »sane_man
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:42amPerhaps read what it actually said. It said fruit from a “vending machine” and even pointed out how rare that kind of purchase would be. Most fruit purchases would not all into this category
Report Post »Worldsapart
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 2:55amBen, I got it, and the joke was FABULOUS!
Report Post »sane_man
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 3:25amOh man…I’m sorry. I didn’t the joke but I do now. My apologies for my reply. In my defense, perhaps I’m just too used to reading really stupid comments form really stupid people. Looks like I was the stupid one here.
Report Post »Mahakala
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 3:27amIf San Francisco would institute a fruit tax it would have a budget surplus.
Report Post »blondenblueeyed
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 3:25pm@Mahakala GOOD ONE! Too Funny!
Report Post »Phreqguru
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 3:54pmPretty soon they will inventory everyone’s backyards and if you have fruit trees they will tax the amount of fruit you harvest….consumption tax, canning tax, storing tax……….
Report Post »Restore the Republic
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 9:43pmThe Marxists have gone insane taxing everything in sight to pay people for their votes. Its time to stop this insanity and throw them all out of our government.
Report Post »sane_man
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:45amI got news for you…the “they”…they’re “us”.
Report Post »charles4227
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:45pmAH less face it , the government will do any thing it can to get into our pockets! After all they know how to spend our money better than we do! and on much better stuff, than we would spend it on. At least that’s what they say!! RIGHT!!!
Report Post »MarkstoneUSA
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 9:41pmFace it people, I swear the whole world exists to try to part the WORKING American from there hard earned money. Our own government takes it from us and either gives it to people that hate us by envy or downright want to kill us. And if there not giving it away, there in cahoots with scam artists with idiotic ideas to “save the earth”. Eventually some trickster will even figure out how to tax the act of making love…
Go anyone but Mcain, I mean, Romney
Report Post »Mtremblay
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:36pmNow I have bought fruit in a vending machine but an extra tax. I am not sure if I paid it. It is certainly not declared anywhere but here is the problem. Doesn’t Michelle Nobama want us to be eat better and weigh less-so they tax it more than they do doritis? Just like the push for green cars. They push you to go green but Nobama wants to track our mileage and charge us per mile instead of the sale in gas
Report Post »WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges07
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:34pmI knew I saw all this tax business before … oh yeah:
“Popeye Taxman”
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0ahJPxfGp4
WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges07
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:37pmBTW … TEA — Taxed Enough Already!
Report Post »Miami
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:16pmFruit in vending machine…?
Am I the only one who finds that strange…?
I know in Japan you can buy anything out of a vending machine but I’ve never seen that here nor would I buy any fruit this way.
Report Post »phillipwgirard
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:03pmNo decent news from the BLAZE lately. The BLAZE is turning into a gossip RAG, like the Enquirer
Report Post »Miami
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:18pmYou can alay go else where, noi one is making you comment or stay
Report Post »READRIGHTHERE
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 10:34pmhe likes to hear himself type
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:09amPhillip, click on your bookmarks tab, then right-click on “The Blaze” and click delete. That way you don’t have to visit the site anymore.
Report Post »iowabassboy
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:03pmIowa is about to pass a tax that allows the power companies to start taxing us for nuclear power plants that may or may not be built in the future!
Report Post »booger71
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:02pmIf we taxed liberals gray matter we would have 0 in revenue.
Report Post »Miami
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:24pmLiberals don’t pay taxes, they just raise them, Buffet wants for others to pay more and he still hasn’t paid his
Report Post »inferno
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:58pmNo matter how you slice it or dice it, taxing anything is a tax on your income. And we think the IRS is the only entity that taxes ones income ! Aren’t we glad we have a public education monoply ? Only an education monoply can allow ignorant teachers to teach ignorant students. As a result what do we get ? More ignorant teachers to teach the next crop of ignorant students. Bad seed produces bad crops. And it goes on and on and………….
Report Post »sizzler2220
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:57pmWe used to buy fruit from a vending machine in our high school.
Report Post »Tired of Idiotic Comments
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 9:10pmBurbank High School sold apples from vending machines in 1960.
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 9:48pmI wonder how much tax we pay
Report Post »for the FRUITS in D.C.
jado1981
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 11:46pm@ USAMEDIC
We will have to pay something to the tune of 14 trillion for those fruits in DC.
Report Post »NC
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:43pm[quote] If you buy fruit from a vending machine – and who hasn’t done that – you’ll pay an additional 33 percent on the amount of the purchase [unquote]
I raise my hand. In my 55+ years, I have never bought a fruit from a vending machine. I’ve met fruits using vending machines, I used vending machines that acted as though they were fruity, I’ve even met a fruity vending machine technician.
Living in the mountains, I’ve often wondered what I was missing from the mass of humanity that resides in the city. This life’s question has been answered.
City folks but their fruit from a machine instead of picking it off the tree.
NC
edited to correct spellnig)
Report Post »RightThinking1
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:27pmSounds like you live in western NC. You can’t be very far from me…, as much as I hate to say it, Asheville.
Report Post »SAM1234
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:30pmLooks like you’re too old to recognize sarcasm
Report Post »Proud Southerner
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:35pmWe paid a Federal tax for the Spanish-American war until 2006, 3% on all long distance calls. Most long distance calls lasted longer that the war. The government said they would refund $15 billion dollars. I assume AT&T got it.
Report Post »Wolfram
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:34pmOhio taxes the carbonation in soft drinks.. 5 cents per bottle or fountain drink
Report Post »kkentucky
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:11pmHmmm if the soda is flat do ya get your taxes back?????
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 9:43pmWow! really? glad I stopped drinking that stuff….and I do not heat my house with heating oil any more; and one of the factors involved in changing the heating system was TAX.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:10amNo Kentucky, in that case they hit you with additional fees, called a “Flat Tax” Hahah!
Report Post »bama54m
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:34pmhow about the tax on chicks across the BC Washingtom border,,the tax them as being improved if they go across the border to be “sexed” and then returned,,they are worth more,if you kno what sex they are.A friend of mine in the Cab business used a new motor as a write off on income tax,,the government argued that he “improved the value” of a taxi with over 300,000 miles on it,,Go Figure !
Report Post »Cat
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:27pmAnd look were taxes got all those societies …
Report Post »krjones
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 6:55pmhttp://capoliticalnews.com/2011/09/21/video-the-government-can-tim-hawkins/
Report Post »Cheekymnky2
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:06pmPA still has a 1% sales tax to pay for the Johnstown flood … of 1889! Then we have the 5 cent bag tax in Montgomery county MD. I was wondering if you don’t pay the bag tax, is it tax evasion or shoplifting?
Report Post »krjones
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:18pmSee link above. It’s whatever the government man says it is..
Report Post »Kaoscontrol
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:31pmThis video is so true…Tim Hawkins is hilarious.
Report Post »schroeder123
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 6:54pmLine me up all those people who thought of these taxes. I’ll take care of them.
Report Post »saintjock
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 6:54pmFruit cake really? THat cant generate very much.
Report Post »Utahcatholic
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 3:38pmIs there a “Fruit Tax” in San Francisco?
Report Post »rukdnme13
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 6:44pmIf you take a walk we’ll tax your feet! The Beatles
Report Post »mensaman62
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:06pmGeorge Harrison in particular. Song is “Taxman” off of Revolver and he hated the taxes he paid in England.
Report Post »Cat
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:36pm…
John Lennon got so sick of England’s taxes, he and Yoko bought a mansion in Palm Beach Florida
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/john-lennons-house-former-3/
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 6:40pmCreating new taxes and regulations are bad for business and liberty and that’s all the worthless pigs in congress do,create new taxes and regulations.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 6:52pmTax B.S. and see how politicians like it.
Report Post »seeker9
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 6:54pmJust heard on Fox that this congress has been one of the most unproductive ones. I say GREAT! Can’t think of many laws that do not cost anything, so the less productive the better. Will there ever come a day when we elect politicians to cut costs, not to make more laws?
Report Post »eagle2715
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:03pmRight on Seeker….One thing Perry has right…the less they work, the less damage they can do…And maybe the less we have to pay them?…..This 6 figure salary thing for these bums should be corrected….
Report Post »Buck Shane
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:41pm@ seeker9
Report Post »Agreed.
Why is congress a full time job? They make laws, right. Don’t we already have 230 years of laws – why do we need more?
progressiveslayer
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:20pm@BUCK SHANE We need more new laws so congress can demonstrate their power and control over us.We need a part time legislature and for every new law created congress should do away with five.
Report Post »Buck Shane
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:22pm@ progressiveslayer
Report Post »Well, I suppose they do need to keep us from hurting ourselves.
2theADDLED
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:25pmCongressmen are just out of work lousy Lawyers who can’t make it in the private sector.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:17amI understand the need for new laws, now and then, as things change. For example, 20 years ago we didn’t have to worry about cell phones and people texting while driving. But there is a line between legitimate laws and completely absurd laws and laws the gov’t makes up just to intrude in our lives.
Report Post »Gov’t should be a part time job and that is more than enough to get whatever new laws are “needed” done.
We don‘t need gov’t in half the places they are.
I mean, running an investigation on steriods in baseball, for example, is insane.
BetterDays
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 6:39pmPreventing a socialist utopia is taxing eneough, The Obamanation must go, but must not be replaced with his Massachusetts “good (R) twin.
Report Post »And NO I won’t vote against what is morally correct, just to replace one with the same thing, that’s insanity, at best.
David
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:22pmYou’re right. The enemy of America isn’t Barack Obama. The enemy is big government.
Report Post »US Agent
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:54pmNo one person or people are the enemy. It’s a battle of ideas. Liberty v Tyranny
Report Post »READRIGHTHERE
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 10:36pmObama and Romney could not be farther apart. In fact Paul is closer on policy to Obama’s campaign promises than any other on the stage.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 11:38pmCongrats on Reelect Barry 2012
America RIP
Feel better now
Report Post »Utahcatholic
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 3:34pm@USagent………….Mark Levin would be proud of you.
Report Post »