Tax

[rmdo92]

Hi I come from the UK, where it is easy, the price listed is the price you pay.

is this right,

if you buy something in the Disney hotel, you pay 6.5% tax + 6% resort tax.

and if you buy it anywhere else it is just the 6.5% tax.

is there anything else you need to added? is every thing taxed at the same rate.

can we get any of the tax back.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The basic Sales Tax rate in Florida is 6.0% and is on most goods and services. The counties have an option, by vote of their residents, to add a surtax of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0% or 1.5% to the state rate.

Orange County, which is most of WDW, has a surtax of 0.5% so purchases (including meals) are taxed at 6.5%.

Osceola County, which has the All-Stars Resorts and Wide World of Sports in it, has a 1.0% surtax so purchases at those locations are subject to a 7.0% tax.

In addition, counties are allowed to have a tax on transient lodging. In both Orange and Osceola Counties it is 6.0%, so all lodging except the All Stars is 12.5% while the All Stars, in Osceola County, is 13.0%.

Note that food and merchandise purchased at a Resort is only subject to the Sales Tax. Only the room rental is subject to the additional Lodging Tax.

And unlike VAT, it is not refundable. However, if you buy merchandise and have it shipped directly by the seller (Disney) out of Florida you will not be charged the Sales Tax (but of course will have to pay shipping fees).

Mike (CPA Retired)

 

[ColdNorway]

Hi I come from the UK, where it is easy, the price listed is the price you pay.

is this right,

if you buy something in the Disney hotel, you pay 6.5% tax + 6% resort tax.

and if you buy it anywhere else it is just the 6.5% tax.

is there anything else you need to added? is every thing taxed at the same rate.

can we get any of the tax back.

Hi. Im from Norway,and unlike the Americans,(no offense) we also can by a thing priced 10, when we have a tenner in the pocket.

I do have noticed that when shopping in grocery stores in Orlando, i dont pay tax on food, but 6,5 % tax on anything else,(looking at the bottom off the receipt), so im guessing that in Orlando there are NOT tax on food bought in a grocery store,(Supermarket).
IDK what "food" is, but things like bread,milk,meat,eggs, NO TAX.
Things like cola,candy,chips, TAX.

And you don´t pay resort tax on stuff you bye at the hotel, just the 6,5% tax.
The resort tax are tax that are specifically meant for "sleep overs", and that tax goes back to the tourist industry to promote travel.

Unlike Europe you can not get any tax back(like the duty free system),and watch out for restaurants who often add 15% gratuity for themeless, automatically on the bill. (and smiles to try get another 15-20% tip on that). All Disney service restaurants do the auto tip robbery when using the Disney Dining card, idk if they do this otherwise.

Have an Magical Trip.

Roger.

 

[Disneyliscious]

I can't imagine being able to go somewhere and paying exactly the price you see. In fact, I didn't know any country did that.

Here in Tennessee the tax rate is 9.25% to 9.75% for food, clothing, etc. Lodging taxes are on top of that.

When Tennesseans get a 10% off coupon.....its like "hey we save the tax!!"...lol

 

[CowboyCO]

I can't imagine being able to go somewhere and paying exactly the price you see. In fact, I didn't know any country did that.

Here in Tennessee the tax rate is 9.25% to 9.75% for food, clothing, etc. Lodging taxes are on top of that.

When Tennesseans get a 10% off coupon.....its like "hey we save the tax!!"...lol

In Colorado, were I am, we pay anywhere from 5.25-8.0% sales tax on purchases. Food is non-taxable at the state level, but counties and cities can tax food. Most do not. Many places have a bed tax for lodging.

Sales tax is MUCH lower in the states than in Europe. Last time I was in London, it was 17.5% VAT. IMO the reason prices in Europe include the tax is that they don't want people to think about how much tax they are paying. In America, we WANT to know how much tax we are paying. We fought our first war over taxes.

In the US, there is no national sales tax (yet - don't hold your breath with this gang on The Hill). It is a state and local sales tax.

Montana and Oregon have no state sales tax, so the price you see is the price you pay.

 

[tina95]

I can't imagine being able to go somewhere and paying exactly the price you see. In fact, I didn't know any country did that.

Well they get their money other ways! Last summer when we were in Europe fuel was close to $10 per gallon. Everything seemed pricey. Maybe it was the exchange!

 

[silmarg]

Yes, Sales Taxes are imposed at the State and Local level, so what is taxed and the rate of tax will vary by location.

As others have mentioned, there there are some jurisdictions that do not have a sales tax: Alaska, Oregon, Montana, Delaware and New Hampsire are among them.

An interesting item of note, is if one is a resident of a state that does impose a sales tax and they purchase an item in a no tax (or low tax) state, their resident state may impose a "use tax" which would be equal to the sales tax. Use taxes are very difficult to collect as the consumer has to confess to having made the purchase and then pay the use tax to their home state (unlike sales taxes where the person selling is required to collect the tax and remit it to the state).

So shipping an item lets say from Florida to New York, may relieve the purchaser from paying Florida sales tax, it does not absolve him or her from paying a use tax in New York.

Florida has steep sales and lodging taxes as it does not have a state level income tax for individuals (Florida does have a corporate income tax and a tax on individual's intangible property).

 

[Karenj2]

Unlike Europe you can not get any tax back(like the duty free system),and watch out for restaurants who often add 15% gratuity for themeless, automatically on the bill. (and smiles to try get another 15-20% tip on that). All Disney service restaurants do the auto tip robbery when using the Disney Dining card, idk if they do this otherwise.

I thought that the restaurants only charged at tip (not tax) of 18% when there was a party of 6 or more, at least that was our experience the last few years... Sometimes the waiter would split our bill between my husband and I and my sister & her family of 4, so we didn't get the automatic 18%. And a few years ago, the Dining Plan (not sure if it is the same as the Disney Dining card ColdNorway mentioned) did away with automatically charging the tip in the bill, so if that's what he was talking about, you don't have to worry about that.

I can't imagine being able to go somewhere and paying exactly the price you see. In fact, I didn't know any country did that.

Here in Tennessee the tax rate is 9.25% to 9.75% for food, clothing, etc. Lodging taxes are on top of that.

When Tennesseans get a 10% off coupon.....its like "hey we save the tax!!"...lol

Actually, the state of Delaware has no sales tax, so what you see is what you pay. (With the exception of some items that are being purchased by out of state people - i.e., cars, furniture, TVs and appliances, etc.)

 

[ColdNorway]

Hi I come from the UK, where it is easy, the price listed is the price you pay.

is this right,

if you buy something in the Disney hotel, you pay 6.5% tax + 6% resort tax.

and if you buy it anywhere else it is just the 6.5% tax.

is there anything else you need to added? is every thing taxed at the same rate.

can we get any of the tax back.

I live in Norway and we pay 25% tax on all things bought, and a minimum 28% tax on all salaries.
1 can of cola cost 1,98$ at the supermarket.
1 Big Mac cost 7,12 $ (just the burger yes).
But things are NOT any more expensive because of that, our work salaries are just among the worlds highest.
If your 16 years old and your first day are in McDonalds, you start salary will be 23,40$ pr hr. That a minimum salary,regardless.
But it DO get pretty "party,party", when a Norwegian goes to another Country.
But im not thinking that was the original post thought.

I think the original post point was that, is´s very strange that a country like USA are fine with NOT paying the price that are originally posted in front of their eyes. As a foreigner it looks like USA are so "grown up" with this system, that no-one seems to care about that they can´t use 10 dollar, to pay for something priced at 9,98.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I thought that the restaurants only charged at tip (not tax) of 18% when there was a party of 6 or more, at least that was our experience the last few years... Sometimes the waiter would split our bill between my husband and I and my sister & her family of 4, so we didn't get the automatic 18%. And a few years ago, the Dining Plan (not sure if it is the same as the Disney Dining card ColdNorway mentioned) did away with automatically charging the tip in the bill, so if that's what he was talking about, you don't have to worry about that.

TiW automatically has an 18% gratuity added regardless of party size.

 

[silmarg]

I live in Norway and we pay 25% tax on all things bought, and a minimum 28% tax on all salaries.
1 can of cola cost 1,98$ at the supermarket.
1 Big Mac cost 7,12 $ (just the burger yes).
But things are NOT any more expensive because of that, our work salaries are just among the worlds highest.
If your 16 years old and your first day are in McDonalds, you start salary will be 23,40$ pr hr. That a minimum salary,regardless.
But it DO get pretty "party,party", when a Norwegian goes to another Country.
But im not thinking that was the original post thought.

I think the original post point was that, is´s very strange that a country like USA are fine with NOT paying the price that are originally posted in front of their eyes. As a foreigner it looks like USA are so "grown up" with this system, that no-one seems to care about that they can´t use 10 dollar, to pay for something priced at 9,98.

$23.40 is minimum wage! WOW!

 

[CowboyCO]

$23.40 is minimum wage! WOW!

Well, sorta. Take off the 53% they take out for income and sales tax, then that's about $11/hr.

I'm sure there are many other taxes as well -- property, personal property, and don't forget about the lovely fine system in Norway -- based upon you ability to pay. That is Norway isn't it? Home of the $50,000 speeding ticket?

from Wikipedia

Highly progressive income taxes, the introduction of value-added tax, and a large number of special surcharges and taxes made Norway one of the most heavily taxed economies in the world. Authorities were particularly inclined to tax discretionary spending, applying special taxes on automobiles, tobacco, alcohol, cosmetic items, etc. Since assets were also subject to taxation, there were individuals who ended up with tax liabilities hole in excess of their gross income.

You're not making so much, when they are taking most of it away. The only way to hang on to any of it, is to not spend it. Which reduces the desire to earn it, IMO. What's the point?

 

[ColdNorway]

Ok. Sure ure right on this points.
I would flee this stupid Country right now,if it wasn't for the life security(social),we all get.
For fun i´ll like to add some more weird & funn stuff about Norway.
We are VERY socialists,and in Norway this means that everyone are as equal as possible.
If your rich, the government take your money.
If your poor the government gives you money.

We have one of the worlds lowest work ethics,followed by the worlds sickest work force.
(im guessing the reason are,we don´t have to work).
We all get full pay, the first 3 day sick from work,whiteout any doctors notice.
(max 3 times a year though, then You can go to a doctor).
The doctor, that everyone in Norway has, it´s an personal doctor.Also For Free.
And if you end up in a hospital, everything Free again.

And if your not that eager to work at all, you will get social security for life, and a place to live, and after the government pays all "necessary" bills,(not cellphone bills ok) you will get about 800$ a mount,thats called "spending money"
So therefore we have No poverty.

The TAX we pay, we pay to the government. And our government are the people. And the People are getting all this money back,by far, so no one minds this tax policy because life security on all levels,are free.(ok then,already payed for by ourself)

And Yep, its Cold here, and Dark.
But we LOVE Florida.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

And Yep, its Cold here, and Dark.
But we LOVE Florida.

My DH feels the same way about New England. This is why we live in Louisiana.