this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2023
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Meh, we computers that can do the math, and the labels are all printed. There is no reason why the labels can't be sales tax included these days. I understand it is harder when running commercials or billboards, but in store there is no excuse.
Online you’d need to input your address before ever seeing pricing which I personally don’t care for. In-store would be easier from that perspective but there are so many exemptions and jurisdictions it would take a ton of work to switch over. Some tax code would have to be rewritten. Possible, but far more work than what the FTC is currently talking about.
An example of one of these complexities. In 13 states, sales tax is collected on a Milkyway but not a Twix.
The webside can just list prices with the highest tax rate in their database, absent a location. No one will ever complain about a price decrease when they go to check out.
Until you’re trying to use a $10 off $50 coupon. This is constantly a problem at groceries stores. Multiple coupons, instant savings, and bonus points. You need a damn spreadsheet to make sure you meet each criteria.
The register can figure that out, why can't the label maker?
It’s not an issue of can or can’t, it’s an issue of the consumer not knowing why a Milky Way is $1.07 vs a Twix at $1.00. On the receipt they can see one is taxed and the other is not.
Does that matter to the consumer? Shouldn't they know that a Milky Way cost 7 cents more than a Twix when picking their candy?
Shouldn’t they know why? Does it just cost more or is it because the government is doing it?
No one’s saying you don’t show the tax on the receipt. It’s not like no one has figured it out yet.
The EU requires tax to be included in prices displayed to customers, and each country has their own specific country regional and local tax codes. They manage just fine, so can the US.
The VAT rate doesn’t change inside each country does it? The US doesn’t have VAT, and the federal government doesn’t have sales or use tax.
Yes VAT does change from country to country. Also VAT is more complex than sales tax in that it is applied to various consumer goods as well as some services.
inside each country. For example is there a different VAT in Paris than Cannes?
That doesn’t actually matter. You are making excuses for why the tax system is too complicated to include tax, and I’m telling you they’ve already solved the issues of different tax rates across one currency. In the EU, where most counties share the same currency, companies are required to include tax in the displayed price and show the customer how much of the purchase is tax.
I work with Point of Sale companies and know this problem is solved. It is not too difficult to achieve from a technical or practical perspective, so you’ll have to dig up some other reason this is somehow unachievable.
I’m not making excuses, I’m explaining how it’s complex and isn’t something you can’t snap your fingers and resolve. If you want to start a movement to change it, I’m not going to stand in your way. It doesn’t matter to me either way.