[bobbiejo45]

I use EBT for food. The last two times I went to Kroger I was charged tax 'for coupons'.

First trip:
I just bought a soda and used $1 OYNO coupon, then my EBT card was charged $.39 and I owed $.08 tax.

2nd trip:
Kroger Bread $1.00
BBQ sauce $1.00-$1MQ=Free
Kraft Mayo $2.49-$2.49MQ=Free
Cream cheese $1.99-$1.99MQ=Free

Swiped my EBT card, paid $1.00
then had to pay $.11 tax

Has anyone had this happen before? I'm pretty sure I have bought only food, used coupons, and didn't pay any extra tax when I used my EBT card.
I'm trying to figure out what rate I was even charged $1MQ produced $.08tax and $5.48MQ produced $.11tax.

Thanks
BJ

[meganPRICE]

Yup! It happens! It's not something I like, but I just avoid shopping at those stores that cause me to pay tax.

My WM use to charge tax on them, but now for some reason, it doesnt.
My Homeland doesn't charge tax.
Dollar General (here) doesn't charge tax.
But a local store, Harp's, does.
It's .10 per $1 here, so it adds up SUPER fast!

I wish I knew why it did at some stores & not others but the only thing I know is that it's something in the registers that cause it to happen.

[bobbiejo45]

Seems like a loophole in the tax laws. I'm glad it isn't 10%. I wouldn't be able to use coupons

[Kayline]

In NC you pay sales tax on the pre-coupon price when you use EBT. I know it may be difficult to come up with the cash to pay that tax but you're still stretching your food dollars and coming out ahead when you use coupons, so please don't get too discouraged. Looking at your second transaction, you basically got $6.47 worth of product for $1 EBT and .11 cash. Seems like a pretty good deal to me!

[bobbiejo45]

Oh yeah I know it was a good deal but it's disconcerting to be charged some random amount, I usually don't have any cash. Now that I think about it I used like 20 coupons at HT for triples and only used my EBT card.

[Kayline]

Then the HT registers are programmed incorrectly or something because you should have paid tax. I know it's pretty wonky but hey...it's NC...what do you expect??

[phoenixjean1]

Originally Posted by bobbiejo45

Oh yeah I know it was a good deal but it's disconcerting to be charged some random amount, I usually don't have any cash. Now that I think about it I used like 20 coupons at HT for triples and only used my EBT card.

It may be something because of the promotion. It could have read the coupons as part of a "sale" (especially since HT is covering the triples, and only gets reimbursed for the amount of the coupon), therefore a lower "price" or free after coupon. So could be no tax.

[bobbiejo45]

Originally Posted by phoenixjean1

It may be something because of the promotion. It could have read the coupons as part of a "sale" (especially since HT is covering the triples, and only gets reimbursed for the amount of the coupon), therefore a lower "price" or free after coupon. So could be no tax.

Now I'm gonna have to try this out at different stores. Or at least pay more attention. What is the food tax in NC? I tried looking it up but got a bunch of irrelevant info.

[phoenixjean1]

Food tax is 2% in NC.

[cjwonders]

you get taxed on food? We don't in Michigan

[loretta12974]

in north carolina , we get taxed on everything. for example, the county i live in , we have to pay school tax , fire tax, and county tax for vechiles, and private property even though that person doesn't have children in school; they have to pay. what burns me up about that is north carolina has an education lottery and surronding counties don't pay school tax for their property tax.

[cjwonders]

we pay taxes on everything else - just not food - I guess I just thought no one did

[bobbiejo45]

Makes sense soda must be taxed at 9% tax and my second trip I used $5.48 in coupons so thats $.11. I'm going to pay attention to which stores charge tax w/ coupons now and make sure I have the cash.

[tnmommy]

Tennessee is broke. They tax the heck out of everything. I do not use ebt, but you are sort of paying with the coupon and most coupons say customer must pay any sales tax. The coupons are paying so you don't use your ebt money for it. That is a good thing. I agree if you only had $.11 oop that is a bargain. Just a thought..if you used a couple of your own bags you might have gotten $.03-$.05 each at most stores. That would almost get you to zero.

[mrshorn1975]

My sister uses EBT and when she uses her EBT card at Kroger's they charge her tax on her coupons but she goes right over to the Customer Service dept. and they give the tax back to her in cash.

[bobbiejo45]

Originally Posted by mrshorn1975

My sister uses EBT and when she uses her EBT card at Kroger's they charge her tax on her coupons but she goes right over to the Customer Service dept. and they give the tax back to her in cash.

Hmmm, thats interesting. Thanks for the info.

[bobbiejo45]

Originally Posted by tnmommy

Tennessee is broke. They tax the heck out of everything. I do not use ebt, but you are sort of paying with the coupon and most coupons say customer must pay any sales tax. The coupons are paying so you don't use your ebt money for it. That is a good thing. I agree if you only had $.11 oop that is a bargain. Just a thought..if you used a couple of your own bags you might have gotten $.03-$.05 each at most stores. That would almost get you to zero.

You know one time at Kroger they gave me like .03 for using a reusable bag but never again. I wonder if you have to ask. I'm getting pretty good at remembering my bags.

[steffus]

Originally Posted by cjwonders

we pay taxes on everything else - just not food - I guess I just thought no one did

I wish we didn't! I'm always in awe of people who say they don't get taxed on food!

[dani113077]

I use an EBT card and get charged tax on coupons. It says on most coupons in the very small print customer responsible for all tax. I just make sure to have a couple of dollars when I go. I also have a small change bag that I use. I put change from around the house in it then when I go to the store I take it in with me. It has saved me from having to use a dollar when it is only .08.

[Kayline]

Originally Posted by mrshorn1975

My sister uses EBT and when she uses her EBT card at Kroger's they charge her tax on her coupons but she goes right over to the Customer Service dept. and they give the tax back to her in cash.

Not sure what state your sis is in, but the law on this varies from state to state. As I said before, NC law is such that the customer is liable for tax on the pre-coupon price no matter what method of payment you use. All NC stores should be collecting tax accordingly.

[mommamerri]

That is weird.. we do not have tax on food items here, but we are taxed on pop and certain food items. WhenI pay with EBT that tax is taken away.. I though t EBT caused you to be tax exempt...

[Kayline]

You don't pay tax on food in NC with an EBT card either unless you use coupons, then you pay tax on the pre-coupon price of the items you used coupons for.

[ms.laura]

ebt users are tax exempt even if coupons are used (just food portion not ebt cash ) all i have to do as a cashier is press the tax exempt button.