High Sales Tax (coupons, how much, homes)

[momma123]

Did anyone know that Tennessee ranks #1 in the nation for the highest sales tax??????? Sales tax @ 9.35% . Don't believe me look it up on fairtaxation.org

[JMT]

Originally Posted by momma123

Did anyone know that Tennessee ranks #1 in the nation for the highest sales tax??????? Sales tax @ 9.35% . Don't believe me look it up on fairtaxation.org

I, for one, am grateful to be living in a state where I choose how much I pay in taxes. The beauty of a sales tax is that I get to decide how much taxes I pay. If I don't want to pay the sales tax on a $15,000 car, I don't have to buy a $15,000 car, I can buy a $14,000 car or a $10,000 car. If I don't want to pay the sales tax on a $3 loaf of bread, I can buy a $2 loaf of bread. Or I can make my own bread.

Once the government takes money from my paycheck, all freedom is lost. I can't give myself a pay raise to offset the taxed income.

So thank you for pointing out yet another reason many of us freedom-loving Americans enjoy living in Tennessee.

[Sparkman]

Originally Posted by JMT

I, for one, am grateful to be living in a state where I choose how much I pay in taxes. The beauty of a sales tax is that I get to decide how much taxes I pay. If I don't want to pay the sales tax on a $15,000 car, I don't have to buy a $15,000 car, I can buy a $14,000 car or a $10,000 car. If I don't want to pay the sales tax on a $3 loaf of bread, I can buy a $2 loaf of bread. Or I can make my own bread.

Once the government takes money from my paycheck, all freedom is lost. I can't give myself a pay raise to offset the taxed income.

So thank you for pointing out yet another reason many of us freedom-loving Americans enjoy living in Tennessee.

You also get non-residents (tourists, etc) to pay a higher share of the taxes than most states do. The OP needs to look at where Tn fits in to the total tax picture, not just compare sales tax.

[Kim918]

I'll take the higher sales tax any day over high property taxes or state income tax. Just ask people in states where ridiculously high property taxes are pushing people out of their homes. Higher sales tax generates revenue fairly across the board. EVERYONE pays, not just home owners. EVERYONE uses services, so this way EVERYONE pays for a piece of the pie! It hurts the wallet a lot less too! Coming from a state that was choking people with huge property tax bills I can tell you that my standard of living has increased upon moving to Tennessee. Some people love to zero in on one thing and make a big deal out of it, without looking at the over all picture.

[TNkudzu]

I agree the TN sales tax is high BUT you have to look at the TOTAL TAX burden not just one. That burden reflects what residents pay in state and local income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, luxury taxes and fuel taxes, among others. It also factors in the portion of business taxes passed along to state residents through higher prices, lower wages or lower profits

Tax Friendly Places 2007

Tax Burden 2006

Tennessee ranks 3rd or 4th from the bottom. I moved here from a high tax state and I feel the benefit of the total burden. I actually got a triple whammy for my move: Friendly natives, Lower Taxes and better weather. What else you need? I am proud to tell people I am from Tennessee unfortunately people just look at me when I talk and hear my European accent mixed in with the north east accent.

[bbkaren]

Amen! Don't want to pay tax on that loaf of bread? Bake it yourself. Grow some tomatoes yourself instead of buying. It also encourages us to be more mindful of our belongings and our food and less wasteful in my opinion.

But the increase in sales tax is more than compensated for by the lack of income tax--which we pay tax on every dime we make!

[Beretta]

It's all relative!!!

I agree with PP's and would like to add another thought. Groceries here are pretty cheap compared to other parts of the country. Just this week I was able to buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $1.79/lb. You can NOT get that in lots of other areas. That is just one example. We keep a garden, I recently started baking all of our own bread, I use coupons and dealios.

While I like to give business to the local stores, I admit to my fair share of online shopping where I do not pay taxes at all. There are ways of "working it", but all in all I think Tennessee is a great place to live, even with the high sales tax.

[hiknapster]

Yes. I hate paying taxes on food. I'm just not use to paying it, so it bothers me.

However, you couldn't pay me to move back to Florida. You really couldn't. All things considered, I'm much happier living here.

[CookevilleWeatherGuy]

all in all, taxation in Tennessee is VERY FAIR compared to the People's Republic of the Northern States of America.....

[Tinman313]

Originally Posted by SmokyMtnGal

It's all relative!!!

I agree with P's and would like to add another thought. Groceries here are pretty cheap compared to other parts of the country. Just this week I was able to buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $1.79/lb. You can NOT get that in lots of other areas. That is just one example. We keep a garden, I recently started baking all of our own bread, I use coupons and dailykos.

While I like to give business to the local stores, I admit to my fair share of online shopping where I do not pay taxes at all. There are ways of "working it", but all in all I think Tennessee is a great place to live, even with the high sales tax.

I just paid today $2.79 a pound for skinless chicken here in FL........