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| Thread ID: 88274 | 2008-03-21 19:08:00 | Maybe our dairy prices aren't so bad after all. | pctek (84) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 651387 | 2008-03-25 14:36:00 | A few years ago here in California, they passed the "Snack-Tax Relief Act (findarticles.com)" whereby they dropped the tax on any foodstuff like Twinkies (en.wikipedia.org) (no NZ equiv) and cookies (NZ= biscuits) but left the tax on any carbonated beverage. It is fair (NZ= fair dinkum), as there are to be no taxes on any foodstuffs in the market for eternity according to the California Tax Standards Act. :thanks Canned (NZ= metallic containers, usually aluminum or depleted uranium) and/or bottled (NZ= glass containers) soft drinks like Arizona Tea (en.wikipedia.org), Snapple (en.wikipedia.org) and Sobe (en.wikipedia.org) are exempt as they are not carbonated. Coke, Pepsi and their ilk (Dr. Pepper, Shasta, RC, Mountain Dew) are fully taxable. Drink "boxes" (NZ= boxes) are not taxed as they cannot hold pressure either. Cigarettes (NZ= fags, but that word is not a good one to use here in the US!) and liquor (NZ= booze) are taxable as are other household items/chemicals like Drano or cleansers/soaps/bleaches etc. Toothpaste and over-the-counter drugs are also exempt. Hygiene products are divided as to applicability and use or necessity. Diapers (NZ= nappies) are also exempt..ya needs SOME relief from that!! Most sales taxes (local fees to merchants for municipal infrastructural use) are set by the local ordinances...and they usually run from 3% to 10%, according to the pay rates of the city councils, their perks and how many are taking the yearly champagne ocean vacation to Mazatlan, Mexico and how long they are staying. Hemet has to raise it's taxes to 10% to pay for monies squandered with their pay raises (twice in the last 6 months they took 47% raises for each position they occupy. Some sit on two or three seats and draw appropriate pay for each seat they occupy.) San Jacinto has a 7% tax rate. Los Angeles has from 8% to around 12% at the moment...according to their local and district-al needs. There is no state-level sales tax except on gasoline (NZ= petrol) and automotive/fuel fees. Some fees are on paints, oils, solvents, and their like for environmental and hazmat wastes and disposal fees. Federal taxes are rare and are usually associated with big-ticket items like autos (NZ= jitneys), trucks (NZ= lorries) and aircraft (NZ= flying boxes with people in them), yachts (NZ= dinghy) and other rich-people's play toys. The Feds and states get taxes on wages and bank interest and retirement pay like IRAs and things like Social Security..yup! They tax your Federal retirement income!!! Aint that the pits! Just thought youse guys would like a little insight into US/California taxes. :sleep |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 651388 | 2008-03-25 17:22:00 | Removing GST on food is a waste of time. Hard to administer and would soon be soaked up with higher prices. And it also means that the govt would have to get that tax from some where else ! It is Fonterra that is charging us more than overseas sales that pisses me off. And I don't believe them when they say they are not. There should be an IMMEDIATE govt enquiry into the prices they are charging. And no help for the farmers for the drought - They cant have it both ways ! |
Digby (677) | ||
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