[Deeds127]

I was doing my kroger sunday shopping like I do every week and while I was in the beauty section this guy came up to me. He gave me a sad story as to how he had an E.B.T card and he could pay for my groceries if I gave him cash. I felt bad and agreed. So my total came up to $21.73 after the guy ran his card there was still a $0.17 balance and the cashier said that kroger (or some other stores too) charge $0.02 per coupon when you use E.B.T. My husband and I dont get or use that so this was new to me. Does anyone know why this is? I'm just curious. TIA for all the responses.

[lviars50]

don't know if its all states r not ... but i think its tax on cpn's--our wonderful goverment at work....

[shelleyf]

I am sorry you got asked to do that. Please don't do it again though because you could go to jail. It is illegal to trade food stamps for cash. he was probably trying to buy cigarettes or beer or maybe even drugs. If someone saw you do that you would get in big trouble. I don't want you to get in trouble for something you innocently did. They will not see it like that.

[Terri Shop]

That is true. Use of food stamps in exchange for cash is illegal.

I'm in Michigan.
We are on food stamps.
We do not get charged for the use of coupons.
We do, however, get charged cash balances for anything that is not edible. And, I believe deli items are taxable, if not fully chargeable.

Because we are on stamps, the OYNO catalinas are turned into instant-off coupons so that we cannot walk out the store with "cash".

All that being said, the weird thing is that food stamps cover bottle deposits.
Go figure.

[wluck]

Originally Posted by Terri Shop

That is true. Use of food stamps in exchange for cash is illegal.

Because we are on stamps, the OYNO catalinas are turned into instant-off coupons so that we cannot walk out the store with "cash".

Wow I guess you can't use the $2.00 coupon for the daytona promotion. Doesn't the cat say it excludes cigs and alcohol.

[Deeds127]

Thanks all. I have never done that before but I felt bad even tho the story he told me was probably false. I only used 10 coupons and the cashier said that it was $0.02 per coupon so I dont know why it was.$0.17. But I will never do that again. I promise. Thanks for the advice all.

[ebonyannette]

I know this is really ghetto and NOT LEGAL at all but "in the streets" people sell food stamps for half the value, so like you give them $10 cash they swipe for $20, the fact that he got you to do $20 for $20 was making out like a bandit for him.

Please in the future be VERY leary of people asking you to do this for them. You never know when 20/20 cameras are around the corner (it could be a set up)

Its a shame that people who actually NEED them cant get them but those who DO get them, are always trying to get rid of them.

[Terri Shop]

Originally Posted by wluck

Wow I guess you can't use the $2.00 coupon for the daytona promotion. Doesn't the cat say it excludes cigs and alcohol.

As food stamp recipients...I can USE a catalina ( or any other tangible discounts, including coupons ) that I might have. The computer will figure out what is taxable, and the register will seperate the deal. The food stamp card pays for anything that is edible and eligible ( on the program ) up to our monthly allotment ( which is $200 for 4 people, in our case )...and charges cash/check/debit for anything that is above that amount and/or taxable in Michigan, such as; H&B, cigs & alcohol ( don't smoke...don't drink ), prepared foods, and anything else that can not be cooked at home and/or consumed or does not fall under the guidence of the food stamp program...save for bottle deposits...which I never understood.

Catalina discounts - and other coupon discounts, even IF the coupon is for H&B or such - are always taken off the edible totals. That means, IF non-edibles ARE purchased in a transaction using the food stamp program, the shopper/recipient is required to pay full price for non-edibles because any coupon discount used was already applied to the part paid for by food stamps.

In Michigan...the food stamp program does not allow recipients to walk out of the store with generated catalinas...because they believe the catalinas can be used like cash. Apparently, they are afraid that recipients may sell the catalinas for cash, and thus use the program to make real money that might be used for questionable purchases, such as toilet paper.

My guess ( in the above OPs senario ) is that the guy's food stamp card did not have enough to cover the purchase, and thus generated a remaining balance of seventeen cents. This can be checked on receipts, as the remaining balance on the food stamp card is usually included in the purchase summary. I have never heard of such a senario where the food stamp recipient is charged for coupons. However, that may be the case in states other than Michigan.

And...for those that think they are descriminated against for being couponers...try being a couponer on food stamps; people in line ( and yes...cashiers, too ) literally freak-out when I check-out of the grocery store. Funny thing is...if they look in my cart, less than 10% of the contents is meat ( usually sale chicken or sale hamburger ), there are NO prepared junk foods ( cookies, cake, chips etc ), bread is ALWAYS purchased from the bread outlet, and I never shop for household supplies ( H&B or cleaning ) when I shop for food.

[shelleyf]

Originally Posted by Terri Shop

As food stamp recipients...I can USE a catalina ( or any other tangible discounts, including coupons ) that I might have. The computer will figure out what is taxable, and the register will seperate the deal. The food stamp card pays for anything that is edible and eligible ( on the program ) up to our monthly allotment ( which is $200 for 4 people, in our case )...and charges cash/check/debit for anything that is above that amount and/or taxable in Michigan, such as; H&B, cigs & alcohol ( don't smoke...don't drink ), prepared foods, and anything else that can not be cooked at home and/or consumed or does not fall under the guidence of the food stamp program...save for bottle deposits...which I never understood.

Catalina discounts - and other coupon discounts, even IF the coupon is for H&B or such - are always taken off the edible totals. That means, IF non-edibles ARE purchased in a transaction using the food stamp program, the shopper/recipient is required to pay full price for non-edibles because any coupon discount used was already applied to the part paid for by food stamps.

In Michigan...the food stamp program does not allow recipients to walk out of the store with generated catalinas...because they believe the catalinas can be used like cash. Apparently, they are afraid that recipients may sell the catalinas for cash, and thus use the program to make real money that might be used for questionable purchases, such as toilet paper.

My guess ( in the above OPs senario ) is that the guy's food stamp card did not have enough to cover the purchase, and thus generated a remaining balance of seventeen cents. This can be checked on receipts, as the remaining balance on the food stamp card is usually included in the purchase summary. I have never heard of such a senario where the food stamp recipient is charged for coupons. However, that may be the case in states other than Michigan.

And...for those that think they are descriminated against for being couponers...try being a couponer on food stamps; people in line ( and yes...cashiers, too ) literally freak-out when I check-out of the grocery store. Funny thing is...if they look in my cart, less than 10% of the contents is meat ( usually sale chicken or sale hamburger ), there are NO prepared junk foods ( cookies, cake, chips etc ), bread is ALWAYS purchased from the bread outlet, and I never shop for household supplies ( H&B or cleaning ) when I shop for food.

I don't think that is the case with food stamps having a balance. If you don't have enough to cover it then it will be rejected. The cashier will have to look at the receipt and put in the exact amount for it to go through.

[brook6]

that charge has nothing to do with Kroger...it is probably part of your state tax laws on food/coupons

[Deeds127]

He had $67.42 on the card so it covered my purchased of $21 I dont know what happened. I am in Ga so it might be a state or store policy. I will never help out again because I didnt know the law against E.B.T. Thank to all who responded. Much appreciated

[Gena575]

It is a bizarre set of sales tax rules/register programing in play. The register views coupons as cash payments. So, since you "paid" for $X with "coupon cash," you then owed the sales tax on that $X. It is the same if you have $20 in food purchases but only $10 on your EBT card...you are taxed on the $10 you pay cash for. Or if you have a coupon for a free item. People used to really flip out over those old soda caps for a free soda. Ring up the soda, ring up the $1.29 cap "coupon," tell the person "your total is 8 cents." "No, the cap said FREE." "Yes, but you have to pay sales tax." "How can you tax FREE?!?" "The state makes me." ::fit throwing:: "Take your (explicative) 8 cents and shove it!" ::walks out without paying tax:: Every.single.day. Sorry...random tangent LOL!

[SmoochTheCook]

I didn't know anything about the catalina deals being different if using food stamps. Not sure I understand even now. So, if I'm buying something that has a catalina along with it...say getting $2/your next order, it will just take $2 off that same day instead? That's really odd, but I don't ever seem to get those coupons for $ off next order. Did the other night, after using my check card, though.

I agree about the drugs...typically selling food stamps for cash is to purchase illegal items...at least items that the food stamps wouldn't cover. That person probably has everyone in the household signed up on them to pay for food, drugs, housing...grrrr!

[Terri Shop]

Yes...that is the case for FAP recipients in Michigan.
It may be different in other states.

If the store programs a catalina for and OYNO, it is flipped instantly so that you cannot walk out of the store with "cash" resulting from the purchase.

Case in point...
The recent Meijer OYNO deal on the 6-packs of Motts Applesauce.
I believe it was buy 5 Motts brands items, get 5.00 OYNO, and they were on sale for 3/5.00 (making them what?...1.67 each before the OYNO).

I did the deal - using my FAP funds 5 times for a total of 25 packages of 6.
...before you freak-out, I have a 4-year-old in the house, and these are better treats than cookies and cakes, or fruit snacks. They travel well. And, I can fake lunchables when I need too with the help of those little cups of applesauce.

The packages rang up at 1.67/1.66/1.66/1.67/1.66 for a total of $8.32
The catalina came off before payment was made making the OOP $3.32
That made each 6-pack cost 1.10.
Each cup cost 0.18ish.
And THAT is a cheap price to make a 4-year-old happy for a long long time.

The nice thing that does happen with this process is that there are no issues with rolling since you do not need to input a printed coupon from the last deal.

[Aliciaboo]

I live n ohio I use an ebt card last month for it so I have been stockin up @krogers I received 10 $2 oyno today.must b diff state to state?

[crazindy]

I live in illinois an have currently got a ebt and they do charge state tax for every coupon u use.is 2¢ i recently bought welch w coupon at target bought 3 and paid 7¢..why 7 and not 6¢ dont understand but thats what manager said..nothing to do w the food its just the state cuopn tax according to manager..as for catalina i got one for pediasure.. the cashier just handed w receipt..

[Terri Shop]

I feel like this thread has been hijacked.

Michigan does not charge sales tax on food that requires preparation. This includes foods that may be consumed without prep, but are used in preparation of other foods, such as; milk, bread, butter.

Michigan does charge sales tax on prepared food, such as; MacDonald's, Burger King, other restaurants, and deli foods.

This may be where the discrepancy comes from.

[brook6]

OP did not say they were in MI???

[mamasitarica]

In TN you have to pay taxes on the amount of coupons you use. So if you use $10 in coupons you pay tax on $10.

[kellynelso]

Not exactly on target with the thread, but back when I used EBT in Virginia I would occasionally get a few cents in cold, hard CASH at the end of a grocery-only coupon using transaction. I always thought it was odd but it never amounted to much.

Question tho - assuming you ARE the EBT customer & use coupons on food only, how are you expected to pay the .17 balance???

[Jin555]

I think I'm being taxed on coupons that double. There's a T next to the second .50 on my receipts. Just saying.

[appbran22]

Originally Posted by kellynelso

Not exactly on target with the thread, but back when I used EBT in Virginia I would occasionally get a few cents in cold, hard CASH at the end of a grocery-only coupon using transaction. I always thought it was odd but it never amounted to much.

Question tho - assuming you ARE the EBT customer & use coupons on food only, how are you expected to pay the .17 balance???

The state of Tn figures if you can buy the paper to get the q's you can pay tax on the q's you use. Each q states that the consumer is responsible for the taxes. TN allows use of coupons on EBT orders but you cant use q's and get everything (food wise for free) if you use q's to stretch the food stamps further you have to pay tax, it no longer becomes a tax free benefit.

I thought this was really weird. My sil has been on food stamps for as long as hubby and I have been married. 6 kids, won't work, husband won't work, live off my mil ss kind of thing. I gave them coupons to stretch it further and she called me all ticked off because she used $30.00 worth of q's and had to pay the tax of 5.5% here in TN. I was baffled so I called DHS and asked them. They explained it to me.

As far as the difference in usual tax-most states have a separate tax for food such as grocery items and then non-food. The county I live in is 9.5% on non-food and food items are taxed at 5.5%.

This could explain the tax difference. just a thought.


HTH