• chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world
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    13 hours ago

    Really surprised to hear they have sales tax on ALL food, not just packaged stuff or restaurant food! Not sure what the rationale is for that.

    • starlinguk@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      In the EU and the UK all food has sales tax. It’s around 20 percent for “luxury” food and around 5 percent for necessary food like bread and milk (some countries have more levels, like France, which has 20, 10, 5 and 2.5).

        • GreenKnight23@lemmy.world
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          8 hours ago

          oh, yeah. most US states still require sales tax on all food, regardless of if it’s raw or not.

          it’s yet another one of those things Americans don’t realize how fucked up it is until someone points out why it’s fucked up.

            • GreenKnight23@lemmy.world
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              3 hours ago

              keep in mind the definition of what foods are and are not taxed vary from state to state.

              some state may not tax you for a box of cereal, while another will because it’s been prepared and is “ready to eat”.

              that would mean that the only time tax benefit would help consumers is when they are buying raw foods such as fruits and vegetables. something that most Americans can’t afford and usually purchase canned (processed).

              just because a state has a law that forbids them from “taxing groceries” doesn’t mean there’s a direct benefit to consumers.