> I still don't really understand why US places don't include sales tax like we include VAT.
A lot of people seem to be under the impression (false as far as I can tell, in every jurisdiction that I know of) that businesses are legally required to list only the price excluding tax. I have had many, many people give me this explanation when I've complained about this. (They often follow it up with a disparaging comment about the nanny-state government.)
I suppose it's possible that that's true someplace, although I think it's unlikely as 1st Amendment provisions should at least make it possible to list both. But true or not, it's at least a widely held belief.
Comments
> 23.8% of the cost of your Big Mac is also charges and fees ... people don't like transparency when it comes to pricing.
In the UK, the sticker price is what you pay at the till.
To my knowledge, in the US the sticker price plus a known, standard percentage of sales tax is what you pay at the till.
I still don't really understand why US places don't include sales tax like we include VAT.
> I still don't really understand why US places don't include sales tax like we include VAT.
A lot of people seem to be under the impression (false as far as I can tell, in every jurisdiction that I know of) that businesses are legally required to list only the price excluding tax. I have had many, many people give me this explanation when I've complained about this. (They often follow it up with a disparaging comment about the nanny-state government.)
I suppose it's possible that that's true someplace, although I think it's unlikely as 1st Amendment provisions should at least make it possible to list both. But true or not, it's at least a widely held belief.
Some businesses include tax in the price. Vending machines, for example. Bars often do too. Movie tickets.
Clearly it's not illegal.