Shoppers beware: Many couponed items on shelves subject to sales tax
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Many coupons used by shoppers to purchase grocery items are taxed. Eric Fink is on your side with this report. Video by IdahoOnYourSide.com
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Caldwell's Jessica Hacker sits at her coffee table every day, scissors in hand, cutting out coupons from different valley newspapers.
Hacker never leaves home to go to the supermarket without piles of discount coupons.
"With coupons you're saving a ton of money, Hacker said, "you're making a huge dent in your budget."
But, that dent, is often not tax free.
After a viewer reached out to us wondering why Winco charges tax on couponed grocery items, Today's 6 and FOX 9 did some digging to find answers.
Idaho state tax code requires grocery stores to charge the 6 percent sales tax on manufacturer-generated coupons.
However, coupons that come from a particular store are not taxed. The couponed items from the vendor are considered store promotions to attract customers.
A frequent coupon-clipper, Hacker argues despite the sales tax on most coupons, she wouldn't be able to feed her family of six without them.
"Having to pay the sales tax on coupons is well worth your time," Hacker said. Every state has a tax, it's part of the game. I'd rather spend that 6 percent sales tax and save 98 percent over all. To me, that's well worth it."
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