Why can't just sellers sell you the stuff with the taxes included?

Question

what is the point of putting a price on something then you walk in the store to get it only to find out that you have to add more money on it because of taxes? isn't that called false advertisement?

and what if you don't have enough money ?? and that's not just for stores but for phone deals and insurance and everything that you buy!! why can't they just show the exact amount with taxes included??

Answer 1

Hi, Jam.

The reason is because most people are far more likely to buy something that's $4.99 as opposed to $5.19.

Simple as that.

Answer 2

the price it says on the shelf is the price the store itself is charging you. the states determine what amount of tax you pay. If you don't have enough money you dont buy it. The stores are required by law to charge you the tax on taxable items or they get in trouble.

Answer 3

Because some people are sales tax exempt. Including me in some states! Although many stores have a pay what you see policy where the prices reflect sales tax. Its not false advertisement as the price shown is the price for the ITEM, the sales tax is the charge from the government.

If you don't have enough money than you should probably not buy the item ;)

And as for the phone/insurance/other c**p. They would MUCH rather suck you in for a 9.99 deal than tell you that at the end of they it will actually cost 79.99.

It is your responsibility as a consumer to know the sales tax, to read the fine print, and not get screwed.

Answer 4

They can sell it with the sales tax built in the sales price.  You need only divide the sales price by 100+ sales percent rate to establish the sales tax liability and determine the price without the tax included.

Answer 5

they need to show their charging taxes for their paperwork