Flame — HabitableZone

Flame » in reply to re: Taxing food.

At first I didn't understand where you were coming from.
Mary Anne — (archived)

How are poor people taxed on food?

Now I know, I think. You're coming from AZ and I'm coming from PA.

Does the state tax groceries where you live? In PA, most foods are not taxed. If I stop at any of the splendid farm stands I pass in my travels, I pay no tax, because it's all produce. Now, a hot dog at the high school football game, that's taxed, because it's prepared food. Certain basic hygiene supplies, and both prescription and non-prescription drugs, are not taxed. Basic clothing isn't taxed, either, along with a list of other things, including textbooks, doctor visits, and caskets.

When I think about a consumption tax on the national level, I think about trying to preserve favorable conditions as I know them where I live. Also, as the mother of four, I think of a tax on food, clothing and medicine as a tax on children.

I do see what you mean about a simple set of regulations. We would still run into the lemonade stand issue, I'm afraid. If a business is run as a hobby by a child, does that count? If it does, well, people will howl and it won't count for long. If it doesn't, I can see shell companies "headed" by children popping up in short order, unless there's an income to earnings ratio built into the sales tax code.

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