Coupons and Sales Tax-Is this correct?

**Suezy** · 11-10-2002, 10:36 PM

Hi - I haven't used coupons all that much, but am trying to do so when the items are on sale and are therefore cheaper than generics - My question - today when I was at Albertson's, I was mainly buying non-food items - The tax was $2.51 - after I gave him $5.60 in coupons, the total bill got reduced, but the tax stayed the same. Shouldn't the tax have been reduced - In other words if i bought toothpaste for 1.99, and had a dollar coupon, shouldn't I just have been paying tax on 99 cents?

Sorry if this question or topic has been asked before - i did a search but couldn't find anything. Thanks in advance for your help.

Suezy

**heaven** · 11-10-2002, 10:52 PM

that is an excellent question. I don't know the answer though sorry. we have no tax here. so it is something i don't have to worry about on a daily basis, but it would make sense if you are only paying 99 why charge tax on 1.99?? some one will know.

**captclearance** · 11-10-2002, 11:59 PM

It depends on local or state laws and store policy..... Local and state agencies want the store to pay the tax on a certain amount of sales, so many stores will still calculate the tax, just to be sure they have the revenue to pay the taxes in.... Doesn't seem fair but that's how it is......

**~Sherry~** · 11-11-2002, 12:08 AM

Some stores will charge you the tax when you get an item free... like a pop or such.

**dz_blonde_girl** · 11-11-2002, 07:25 AM

That's how it works here. If I buy TP for $1.29 and double a .50 coupon I pay .37 for the TP, .29 + .08 tax. It's just always been like that so I never questioned.

**Jerseygirl** · 11-11-2002, 07:22 PM

It's the same here, because, they say, the manufacturer is paying the amount of the coupon, the store is getting the same amount of $ for the product that it would originally be charging, so they have to charge you the full tax.

**Suezy** · 11-11-2002, 08:30 PM

Thanks everyone for your answers. At least I know I'm not getting taken here. Jersey girl, that answer makes sense to me. Thanks.

Suez

**QuilterMom** · 11-12-2002, 07:40 AM

Some of the stores here charge you tax on the subtotal BEFORE the coupons are taken off and some charge you AFTER.

It seems they would all have to do the same thing, but they don't and I never can remember or keep track of which store does it which way. *sigh*