CA Sales Tax. Argh!

[goldenstar]

Ugh. CA sales tax is adding a ton of money to our budget. The sales tax for our (tentative) photographer alone is about $700. I don't wanna think about what it will be for our reception food and beverage.

Out of curiosity, what is the sales tax like where you live? You better not say "none".

 

[Gypsy]

I hear you honey. It was 6% in New Jersey. I had a heart attack adding 8.75 to all the qoutes (and 18-21 % service fees). I THINK it''s none in OR. OR is looking REALLY good right now. LOL.

 

[bee*]

All of our tax (VAT) is included in the price that you see so we don''t have to add anything onto the final price (We live in Ireland). That''s the one thing that''s always irked me when travelling the the US-I always forget that I have to add on more to the sticker price!

 

[Gwyn]

Well, I am from N.H. and the only tax we have is on prepared food (luxary tax) no sales. However...i now live in Los Angeles. So, like you, i too have that horrific tax issue to deal with. Savages. Even better that tax gets added on after service fees =(

I believe that Arizona and New Hampshire used to be the only states without sales tax. Then I believe it was just N.H. If it makes you feel any better, it is something we all deal with. However above 8% is probably one of the highest. Could be worse though. You could be getting married in NYC. i think it is 8.75 there. maybe higher now!

 

[Independent Gal]

If it makes you feel any better, try to concentrate on what your tax dollars help pay for: schools, public transportation, roads, support for the poor, etc.

My grandfather always used to say "You get the society you pay for, so never complain about having to pay taxes." Of course, one doesn''t always love where one''s tax dollars are going! And of course there''s always waste. But, it''s better than no taxes (and so no services). The fastest way to really feel that is to go to a place where the state can''t do much (no tax base)... like Peru or Cambodia. That makes you real glad, real fast.

 

[sumbride]

I got married in a border city (2 states) so we sort of worked it for all we could. My photographer billed us out of state (no tax), my florist also did out of state. We did pay heavily on catering though. Everytime I bought something online I would decide where to ship it based on the tax... I bought some cake charms for the bridesmaid lunch. They were made in Texas so I had them shipped to me in Maryland even though I then had to take them back to Texas with me. Sales tax in Texas is almost 9% so it was worth it to me.

 

[MustangGal]

Arizona is 8.1%, about the same as CA...

 

[sap483]

I''m getting married in RI where there is a 7% sales tax. However my venue is in a town called Newport which has it''s own 1% sales tax, so we''re paying 7% for most of our vendors but 8% for our venue which includes the food and beverages and is of course the largest amount. Of course thats on top of the 20% service charge we''re paying which we were told is taxable too. Where I live in MA, the sales tax is 5%, and we bought my engagement ring from NH where there isn''t any sales tax.

 

[Harleigh]

I''m in Northern CA, so where I live, taxes are 7.25 and 7.75%...it depends on what county you are in.

Where I am getting married, Maui''s tax is 4.166%.

However, the tax on my hotel room in Reno for this weekend''s get-away trip is a whopping 13.5%!!! Highway robbery, I tell ya!

 

[mjso]

I think about this issue a lot, lol. I live in Los Angeles, where the sales tax is 8.25%. The Wedding is in NJ where it ws 6% last I checked. But the kicker, is that FI''s parents livei n Montana (where we spent most of our college years) and the sales tax is zero, zip, zilch. Not to mention things are just cheaper there in general because the cost of living is low. I seriously considered having the wedding there just for the cost savings.

Now I''m wondering where to buy my dress. I''m so tempted to do it in Montana so that I don''t have to pay sales tax, but then do I just get a random seamstress in LA for fittings? And how am I going to get my dress from MT --> LA --> NJ, the cost of travel/shipping probably outweighs the savings.

Silly tax, causing more "decisions" as if I didn''t already have enough!

 

[tenfour]

13%. this is in ontario. it was 14% before january 1st of this year. at one time it was 15%!! yowzah.

 

[Selkie]

Date: 1/23/2008 9:23:49 AM
Author: sumbride
Sales tax in Texas is almost 9% so it was worth it to me.

Wow! I wouldn''t have thought that of such a heavily Republican state. Is that because state income tax or property taxes are low?

 

[swimmer]

MSJO,
Sorry to threadjack, but buy the dress where you want to and carry it on the plane. The suit jacket closet up front when you board is perfect and having carried gowns across the country (no sales tax on clothes (or food) in MA) stewardesses are super sweet about it being your wedding dress. Not sure if I''d try it if you had hoop skirts or something humongous, but just an idea.

 

[sumbride]

Date: 1/23/2008 11:35:33 AM
Author: Selkie

Date: 1/23/2008 9:23:49 AM

Author: sumbride

Sales tax in Texas is almost 9% so it was worth it to me.

Wow! I wouldn't have thought that of such a heavily Republican state. Is that because state income tax or property taxes are low?

There is no state income tax in Texas (yet). So this means that the high sales tax is a regressive tax because the poorer you are, the larger percentage of your income you spend on goods and services that are taxed. (Regular food is not taxed but convenience food is.) It's an ingenious way for the rich to stay rich.

The base is 8.2%, I think and then each municipality adds their own on top of that. It's often 8.85%. It's not really working well enough though so eventually the state may need to add income tax, but I doubt they would also lower the sales tax at the same time. They have instituted sales tax holiday weekends a couple of times a year for clothes and back to school supplies, but I have to really find a deal to go shopping when I'm home. Of course, since my jeweler is in Texas, we just have everything shipped to us out of state. No tax! They are HAPPY to oblige.

Oh, and the property tax is outrageous. Total tax reform would be a good idea.

 

[ringster]

Date: 1/23/2008 3:07:43 AM
Author:goldenstar
Ugh. CA sales tax is adding a ton of money to our budget. The sales tax for our (tentative) photographer alone is about $700. I don''t wanna think about what it will be for our reception food and beverage.


Out of curiosity, what is the sales tax like where you live? You better not say ''none''.

i too didn''t factor in the sales tax and had the same reaction when i got the bill from my photog. i figured it in for the reception. now i know better

good luck with your photog goldenstar! can''t wait to hear who you ended up going with!

 

[newbie124]

Believe it or not, I have most of you guys (in the states at least) beat. Sales tax in Chicago's city proper is at 9% and will be raised to 9.25% on April 1 since the government just approved the increase to help fund our sad excuse of a public transportation system.

Oh, and there was previous reports that the county board might add on some additional increases to make it 11.25% (wtf??)! I haven't heard much more about that recently, though, so it's possible that it's been tabled...for now.

Our government here is so corrupt and inefficient it's a wonder how some people think we ought to host the Olympics!

(OK, gotta stop myself here or I could be on this soap box forever!)

 

[Stephanie]

In Alabama, within my county at least, it''s nine for everything. Hotels are I think at 14%.

 

[goldenstar]

Ringster: I have a decision but we're working out the details. I'll let you know! Yay!

 

[sunnyd]

WA is 8.9%...in one of the rich cities (Bellevue) it''s 9.3%!!! Also at Starbucks it''s 9.3%...who knows...

OR, AK, MT, AL(berta) are all tax free, and I think there''s another one. The joys of working retail for 5 years.

But I think by not having state tax they all have income tax? I know OR for sure does.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

nassau county, long island, NY 8.625.....fun, lol!