I have seen MANY posts questioning the shopping details in various states precisely because they are traveling to an unfamiliar state. They wanted to know whether they should stock up on XYZ while they are in a state with doubles, etc. Knowing the sales tax liability beforehand seems like a logical addition to that information.
I would personally think twice about stocking up on something if I knew I was going to be hit with a 9% tax. I might even take supplies with me in the car if I knew prices would be higher where I was going.
If it varies by county in your state, please be sure to mention which county you live in!
Alabama - YES - 8%; prescription drugs exempt; retail rate can go as high as 12.0% depending on city and county taxes; groceries same as nonfood
Alaska - NO
Arizona - NO - does not have a state food sales tax. Each city decides if they tax food or not. (See post below for extensive details!)
Arkansas - YES - Varies by county, Crawford County-8.5%, Sebastian County-9.25%, Bella Vista area bordering Missouri-7.0%
California - NO - no tax on food; retail tax varies by area; (Suburb of Sacramento) 7.25% (Sacramento) 7.75% (Santa Clara) 8.25%
Colorado - YES - No tax on food; retail tax varies by area; from 5.~% to 8.~%. Connecticut - NO - no sales tax on food, but the state 6% sales tax applies to prepared food (same as restaurants) for immediate consumption, candy, paper products, OTC medication, magazines, plants & flowers, etc.
Delaware - NO - no sales tax on anything
Florida - NO - no tax on food or prescriptions; tax on prepared food varies (6-7%); prescriptions are taxed before being sold so tax is included; there is some tax on some OTC
Georgia - YES - variable; 2% one area, 7% on prepared foods
Hawaii -
Idaho - YES - 6% on food
Illinois - YES - 1% on food; (Cook) 2%; none on prescriptions; retail sales tax is dependant upon counties - most are 7.5-8%
Indiana - NO - no sales tax on food
Iowa - NO - no sales tax on most foods; pop, candy, some juice drinks are taxed; ranges from 5-7% depending on county
Kansas - YES - They tax EVERYTHING imaginable, even shipping and handling. One area is 7.3%, and tax is on pre-coupon prices Kentucky - NO - no sales tax on food; do tax junk food & sodas, fast food
Louisiana - YES - % depends on what parish you live in
Maine - YES - 5% tax on general items, service providers and 'use'; also have a 7% meal tax
Maryland - NO - no sales tax on food; also no sales tax on OTC medication
Massachusetts - NO - no sales tax on food; diapers are also non-taxable
Michigan - NO - no sales tax on food; there is a .10 deposit on all carbonated beverage bottles, so a 12 pack will cost you $1.20 extra. This includes pop/soda, beer, wine coolers and novelty beer drinks (hard lemonade, et al)
Minnesota - NO - prepeared food 6.5%
Mississippi - YES - 7% food tax; 9% prepared food tax
Missouri - YES - can also vary; state food tax is about 3-4%, but could be charged as high as 7% depending on what type of store
Montana - NO
Nebraska - NO - no sales tax on food
Nevada - NO
New Hampshire - NO - no sales tax on anything except prepared food (8%)
New Jersey - NO - no sales tax on food; candy, less than 50% juice, etc are taxed
New Mexico - NO - no food tax in NM; non-food tax varies by county
New York - NO - nonfood item tax anywhere from 7.5% to 9.5% depending county
North Carolina - YES - 2%; 6.75% tax on prepared food if that needs to be added; Candy and soft drinks are taxed at the full 6.75% rate (except Mecklenburg county which adds an extra .5% to make it 7.25%)
North Dakota -
Ohio - NO - no sales tax on food; sales tax can vary from county to county
Oklahoma - YES - 8.5% Sales Tax on everything; tax is charged on pre-coupon total
Oregon - NO - no sales tax on anything; (Ashland) 5% restaurant/prepared foods sales tax =goes to support parks & schools
Pennsylvania - NO - no sales tax on food; prepared foods (PA in general) 6%; (Allegheny) 7%
Rhode Island - NO- no sales tax on food, except prepared foods and single bakery items; HBA are taxable at 7%; coupons are taxable if the item is taxable
South Carolina - NO - as of November 1, 2007,there is no sales tax on grocery
South Dakota - YES
Tennessee- YES - 8.25% on food; retail taxes vary by county; (Davidson County) 9.25% (Rutherford) 9.75%
Texas - NO - no sales tax on food; no tax on prescription/OTC medications; do get taxed on soda, juice drinks, candy,some prepared foods; don't pay tax on coupon amount - if the item is free with the coupon- it's FREE. It is in the tax laws that they can't charge tax on coupon/discounted amount.
Utah - YES - between 6-7%
Vermont - NO - no sales tax on food
Virginia - YES - 2.5% state tax; some areas have a mandatory local tax, as well
Washington - NO - no sales tax on food; deli food from the grocery store is taxable (service food items), soda
Washington DC - NO
West Virginia - YES - 4%, though it is 6% on snacks and sodas
Wisconsin - NO - no sales tax on food or prescriptions, except sales tax on prepared food, candy & sodas; sales tax on non-food varies within the state
Wyoming - NO - recently abolished the sales tax on food; Prepared food is still taxed at 5%
__________________________________________________ _______________ Copyright 2006-2008 - MrsPinecone @ HCW. Permission to repost is denied.
Which States Have Sales Tax On Food? 
Re: Which states have sales tax on food? 
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Laura in NM • • • • • • Mod for 
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