florida sale tax

[babalicious]

Going to florida in september, and i keep hearing about this florida sales tax, i havent got a clue what this is. Can anyone please explain, as i do plan on doing some shopping while i'm there?

[Kaz081992]

If I remember correctly, it's similar to our VAT, but, where people get caught out is that the price tags do not include the sales tax, this gets added on at the till. So you think you're getting an amazing bargain, then you get to the till, they add on the tax and it's no longer a great deal! I can't remember how much the tax currently is but should be easy to find out.

[Clanad]

In addition to the State Sales Tax assessed at the rate of 6% on almost everything (food items at the grocery store are sometimes exempt) you'll find every County also adds a sales and/or service tax to items. Here's the current scale:

http://miami.about.com/od/governmentcityservic es/a/salestax.htm

To compensate for these taxes, there is no State Income tax in Florida (everyone pays the National income tax)...

[vehelpfulguy]

congratulations babalicious, this is your 100th apend about you holiday to Florida (only joking).

The sales tax is not huge, but as other have said, it is added at the till.

So if you see an item at say 5 dollars and 99 cents, when you get to the till it is something like 6 dollars and 10 cents.

The annoying thing is it means you keep getting loads of change.

If the item was 5 dollars and 99 cents, and you gave them 10 dollars, you would get 4 dollars and 1 cent back so only 1 coin.

But if it is 6 dollars and 10 cents you get 3 dollars and 90 cents back, so loads of coins.

by the way, all the dollar bills (1 dollar up to 100 dollars) are the SAME SIZE and SAME COLOR.

If you plan to give someone a 1 dollar tip it is very easy to give them a 100 dollar tip, So when you hand over notes, check what the amount is on the note.

[babalicious]

Actually vehelpfulguy it was my 30th question about my hoilday to florida and i'm sure they'll be many more before i go. That is what this site is all about isn't it? Thank you by the way for answering alot of them!

[lady_p_gold]

Just take your debit card and pay with that, that is what I do.

[auntiebertie]

Actually they are trying to introduce a hint of colour - I believe the $20 bills have a pinky tinge about them!!

Best place to go shopping is the Outlet Malls - one of my favourites is Sawgrass Mills not too far from Miami Airport. You get great bargains here