Comments on: Help Me Fight Maryland’s Horrendous Sales Tax Increase, Even If You Live In Utah!

By: Libertarian

Libertarian — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:13:23 +0000

Now, that I think about it NYC is 15% on the dollar. They get it both from the state and the city. Delaware on the other hand has no sales tax, no property tax, and no income tax.

By: Libertarian

Libertarian — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:12:56 +0000

Now, that I think about it NYC is 15% on the dollar. They get it both from the state and the city. Delaware on the other hand has no slaes tax, no property tax, and no income tax.

By: Libertarian

Libertarian — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:09:12 +0000

Don’t forget, Maryland is requiring ALL internet purchases are now subject to 6% sales tax. That’s right, anyone living in Maryland, is required to pay 6% sales tax on ANYTHING they buy online even if that company is outside of the state and has NO brick and mortar location within Maryland boarders.

And guess what? If that company does not collect the taxes, the state expects YOU to report that purchase to them, and are required to pay the state that money owed them!

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:36:50 +0000

For an awful lot of folks, 6% would be an IMPROVEMENT. Your comments already show that.

But 5% is better than 6%, and 0% is way better than either. (Then again, I’m an ideological minarchist, so of course I think that.)

Still, even if you lose this fight, you can be happy you don’t pay taxes in DC, or New York, or Chicago, or California…

By: mjmcinto

mjmcinto — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:34:31 +0000

Just wait till you sell your house. You’ll get robbed by fees. I was looking at the closing statement for the house we sold (we moved away from MD…probably around your area punny, as I’ve eaten at that Olive Garden you mentioned in your never ending bowl of lies post several times), and I noticed a several hundred dollar fee from the state for stamps and filing crap! What an outrage. When I bought my house in another state, our closing costs were so much cheaper (and it was on the same priced house….only this one is much nicer). Though we do have a 9% sales tax (10% if you go into the city…thanks to a wonderfully crazy new mayor).

By: mbhunter

mbhunter — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:30:06 +0000

Oh suck it up. I grew up in NY. Sales tax was 7% as long as I could remember.

By: Dreams of moving back to PA are shelved…for now at Clever Dude Personal Finance & Money

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:07:48 +0000

[...] the ‘Burgh, but it’s still PA. And what does Maryland have anyway? Heck, it even has the same sales tax as PA [...]

By: E.C.

E.C. — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:24:22 +0000

I just paid 6.250% sales tax on GROCERIES! This was after my state reduced the state tax on food. Other consumer goods are taxed at over 9%in my area, and dining out is a luxury and subject to a tax of over 11%. You have it easy.

By: Briar

Briar — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:47:17 +0000

I grew up in Maryland back when the tax rate was 4%. Now I live in Southern California and I have to take exception with your belief that Maryland is expensive. You should try it out here. Feel free to stop by my $1570.00/month two-bedroom apartment sometime. And I do NOT live in Orange County or the San Francisco area. I live in the desert where it’s relatively cheap!

By: S4B

S4B — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:36:37 +0000

Upstate NY, Monroe County. Combined state and county tax rate is 8%. NY state may have the lowest state tax rate of 4%, but counties and some cities can rake in as much as 5.5% additional. Oneida county, has a combined rate of 9.5%. Of course, it is not a growth area. The remaining citizens pick up the slack with a higher sales tax bill.
The Maryland tax of 6% is nothing to be proud of. Clothing and footwear are still being taxed. You think the sales tax increase that the Governor signed would have made it more progressive? Nah, not a chance.
However, Maryland is still not taxing an extensive set of services. Many of those are still not taxed. Take automotive repair, for example. In PA, NJ and NY, the labor is also taxed, not just the parts they install. In MD, only the parts are fully taxed at 6%.
Those that are fortunate enough to live near the tax border of PA and DE
can shop for clothing or other items that are not taxed at all. WVA is absolutely no bargain, as even food in a supermarket is taxed at 6%.
I could go on, but in summation…you have choices. Vote and buy items with your foot and shop out of state for some purchases. For the routine stuff, is it really worth it? Petrol and diesel are very expensive these days, so one must calculate the cost of the round trip commute to get to lower taxing jurisdictions.

By: David Lacey

David Lacey — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 12:24:39 +0000

I was going to purchase a brand new vehicle this year as mine is five years old. Because of the sales tax increase, I plan to buy a new vehicle in 2009 when I move out of Maryland.

By: Frugal Dad

Frugal Dad — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 03:50:52 +0000

5% puts Georgia’s 7% sales tax to shame. Now this doesn’t impact us frugal folks quite as much as others, but it certainly impacts everyone investing in a high-dollar purchase. I work with a lady from Baltimore so I’ve heard a similar rant when I asked her about living in Maryland…small world!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:07:33 +0000

Pennsylvania is at 6%, with an additional 1% in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Plus, at least in the Philly burbs, our property taxes are significantly higher than in Maryland. We also got a Christmas Eve state income tax increase last year.

In New Jersey (where my husband works), property taxes are even higher, as are payroll taxes.

I think you may be better off on this one in Maryland.

By: Clare

Clare — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:35:54 +0000

Oh, and speaking of Utah: Their sales tax is 4.75%. As of January 1, 2007, sales tax on food and food ingedients dropped from 4.75 to 2.75.

http://tax.utah.gov/sales/food_rate.html

By: JSB

JSB — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:29:38 +0000

Western NY sales tax - 8.75%. Second on this list to only DC.