Inside the Statehouse

Idaho taxes added to Girl Scout cookies?

CREATED Feb. 9, 2013

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  • Jennifer Auh reports on the efforts to remove taxes on Girl Scout cookies in Idaho. Video by IdahoOnYourSide.com

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Your neighborhood Girl Scouts will soon be knocking at your door!

Starting next week, Idaho Girl Scouts will be out and about to take those orders of Thin Mints, Carmel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties and more. Plus, a new cookie to look forward to this year is Mango Cremes!

However, did you know that for each box sold, 22 cents of it goes to taxes? In Idaho, each box sells for $3.75, but 22 cents go to the state sales tax. That's according to the council of the Girl Scouts of Silver Sage.

Idaho and Hawaii are the only two states in the U.S. to add taxes to the sale of those yummy Girl Scout cookies. During this legislative session, leaders of the Girl Scouts of Silver Sage are hoping that all changes.

The Girl Scout’s council said their scouts sell about $2.5 million worth of cookies every year, but $140,000 of that go to the state.

"We are one of only two states, asking the Girl Scouts to pay that tax, and $140,000 a year could go back into programs that can expand our programs," said Julie Hart, Lobbyist.
   
This issue may lead to the question: What about Boy Scouts? Their fundraising programs are also taxed in Idaho. However, the Girl Scout’s council is focusing on convincing lawmakers to exempt the sales taxes on their famous cookies.

Advocates said the draft of the bill to exempt the Girl Scout cookie sales from Idaho’s sales tax is ready. They plan to officially present the proposal in front of the House Revenue and Tax Committee sometime next week.