[stephiedunigan]

Wasn't sure where to look for an answer to this, but maybe this is a good place to post...My SIL wants to get into couponing, and she is on food stamps. She and I are not sure if you can use coupons in conjunction with food stamps. I don't really see why not, but still wanted to know before trying to save some hassle and possible embarrassment. Also...If you have coupons to get something free, but would wind up paying sales tax still,,,since u don't pay sales tax when using food stamps, I guess that wouldreally make it totally free? (Prolly a silly question but I just wanna know the logistics). Thanks in advance!! Oh P.S. We're in Arkansas, if it maybe varies by state.

[RhylansMom]

my sister is on food stamps too and she uses coupons all the time. Works just fine.
But i didnt know you didnt pay sales tax. i have been with her before when she has used it and she has had to pay sales tax?

[couponmama62]

Yes you can use them.This will help your FS go alot further!!

[foggy]

Using coupons while on food stamps is actually a very smart thing to do. You're increasing the amount you have and are able to use.

If you do use them while using food stamps, just be aware that some stores will actually make you pay tax on the coupons used. I know it's sounds stupid but it happened to me when we had to be on them for a little while when dh lost his job a few years ago.

And on a side note... I wish there were classes to teach people who are on food stamps on how to use coupons, etc. Not sure if mandatory classes would be the way to go but classes period on how to coupon, etc. would definitely be a step in a right direction on teaching others in this situation how to further their monthly benefits.

[snowballgirl]

yes...you most certainly can use food stamps with coupons....you *might* have to pay tax...it depends on the store...and if you have non-food stamp purchases you of course have to pay the tax.

with Frees....again it depends on the store...one store I have doesn't adjust the price...whatever the face value of the coupon is, is what they take off (of course I try to save my frees for that store LOL) so usually that will cover whatever tax is involved...I have another store that rings everything up and then sends me to the service desk where they refund me the cash for the free item...(that one didn't make sense to me, so I called my case worker to check and make sure I wasn't doing anything wrong...getting actual cash seemed wrong)

[stephiedunigan]

Thanks everyone! I was thinking it would probably be a trial and error type thing, where ymmv, but at least I know you can use q's with stamps. I'm sure the government appreciates the savings and ability to get more for their money! Hey, maybe Obama needs to check out AFC to help with the economy, huh? teehee... *I support our President, whomever he/she may be*

[heznjon]

I've used them before too when we were on foodstamps and wasnt charged tax at walmart or safeway. You can also use coupons when on wic! They actually encourage it. I remember always reading about it on my folder when I was on wic for my girls.

[crackedwillow]

Be careful with coupons that beep...and overrides....

[gjet68]

Its YMMV because my daughter got FS for a while and when she used Coupons the store would charge her a .07 cents handling fee per coupon used simply because she was on Food Stamps!! She had to quit using them because at the time sometimes she didnt even have the .07 cents to pay for the use of the coupon. That is the way it works here in Missouri. She said another store charged her .03 cents per Coupon. Food Stamps are set up to charge no tax, and Missouri Tax is .07 cents so I guess the store makes you pay Tax for using the Coupons. Also some of our Tax is divided, like .03 cents for Food and .04 cents for other stuff making a total of .07 cents per dollar, am I making sense? I assume that is why u have to pay to use them here in Missouri.

[gjet68]

Warning:

These premises patrolled by a

trained attack rabbit !! LOL

[Kt&Cj'sMama]

Originally Posted by crackedwillow

Be careful with coupons that beep...and overrides....

Just curious, what would happen?

[gjet68]

Sorry for the intrusion once again but I did a google search and came up with this info:

Taken from Missouri General Assembly Site

When the [taxpayer] seller accepts third party coupons, only the [total sale]price paid by the purchaser is included in the gross receipts subject to tax[includes value of the coupon]. [When the taxpayer accepts third party coupons along
with food stamps, the value of the food stamps is not included in taxable sales, but the value of the coupon is included in taxable sales.

[goodgreatfabulous]

I use coupons with my foodstamps and never have a problem. Yesterday I actually got some cash back because my coupons actually gave me a profit on a few items.

I think it is a very smart thing to do because my foodstamps last longer and I love seeing the savings on the receipts.

[amyb882002]

I have lived in 5 different states and I use to have food stamps you can use your coupons with them and I use to do my non food items separate because of the tax issue and sometimes it messes up when you do the whole order together. So when you check out just do two different orders and if they ask why tell them you are using food stamps.

[stephiedunigan]

Wow! Thank you all! I think she shops at wal mart a lot anyway, so I will be sure to let her know all this valuable info.!! I'll be sure to post back what happened when she uses them here in Ark., so anyone else wondering the same thing will know.

[erainwater1976]

I have a very close friend who uses coupons and food stamps and has never had to pay sales tax... She uses coupons to save on food..so she can get more for her money..

[wlcross]

I am so glad to hear that someone who gets foodstamps uses coupons!

[stephiedunigan]

Yup, me too! You know what? I actually saw this happen one time: Someone was checking out in front of me, using food stamps. This caught my attention though...The person put a bag of dog food up with their groceries, the cashier rung everything up normally, then said the total after food stamps was $x.xx. The person turned to their child, told them to go grab some steaks, and told the cashier to take off the dog food. They used food stamps to buy STEAK to use as DOG FOOD!! I was outraged! Ok, ow I understand that if there was nothing else they could do to feed their dog, I guess you have to do what you have to do...but STEAK?? How about hot dogs? bologna? There are much more frugal options if you *have* to go this route. It just made me mad to see someone using their FS so wastefully...Sorry to vent...

[sweetpea101506]

Originally Posted by gjet68

Its YMMV because my daughter got FS for a while and when she used Coupons the store would charge her a .07 cents handling fee per coupon used simply because she was on Food Stamps!! She had to quit using them because at the time sometimes she didnt even have the .07 cents to pay for the use of the coupon. That is the way it works here in Missouri. She said another store charged her .03 cents per Coupon. Food Stamps are set up to charge no tax, and Missouri Tax is .07 cents so I guess the store makes you pay Tax for using the Coupons. Also some of our Tax is divided, like .03 cents for Food and .04 cents for other stuff making a total of .07 cents per dollar, am I making sense? I assume that is why u have to pay to use them here in Missouri.

I have food stamps and have had this problem recently. I've never once had to pay tax or anything unless I bought something that wasn't food, but twice in the last week I've had to pay exactly $0.07 both times and I couldn't figure it out! I was lucky I had the change on me, as I usually don't when I go grocery shopping. Can you imagine using a CC for $0.07!!!! I think it's ridiculous that they make you pay the tax for using coupons. I'm just glad that it wasn't $0.07 per coupon I used, or it wouldn't have been worth it. All we're doing is trying to save us and the gov't money, you'd think they'd be better about that! Sorry for the ranting, just my opinion is all.

[stephiedunigan]

I agree sweetpea! Especially with the economy in such turmoil, you would think they would gladly welcome coupons wih FS!

[sherrylaschers]

i think what they do is charge you tax on soda pop if you are using coupons while using food stamps.i use well over 30 to 40 coupons at one time and never paid sales tax unless i was buying soda pop.

[sweetpea101506]

I've never bought pop on food stamps, so I don't know why I was charged that $0.07 tax.

[CarolynC]

Have never paid tax on coupons used!

[sherrylaschers]

i never paid tax on coupons used either.its just the non food items i have paid tax for.i think its wrong for a store to charge 7 cents just for you to use a coupon.when they get money back for the coupons you are using anyways.thanks for this post.

[sherrylaschers]

thanks for this post