Why is there a "Take Out" tax on my receipt whenever i go through my McDonald's drive-thru?! whats it for?

Question

Take Out taxes suck!! why should i be taxed just cause i dont have time to go inside and eat?!!

im looking at the receipt right now and thats the ONLY tax on there!! ive never been good at governmental c**p but something about that just doesnt seem fair!!

Answer 1

Your state obviously charges some type of meals tax on takeout food. The money goes to the state government, same as any other type of state taxes do.

Answer 2

Many states tax "prepared" food at a different rate than store bought food.

Answer 3

Sales tax.  You'd pay it also if you ate in.

Answer 4

It is a FAT tax to discourage eating fattening fast foods.  Do they still charge that if you walk inside and still take it "to go"?

Answer 5

It could be a number of things, depending on how their system is programmed and your location.

Some areas, (I know California is one), certain items are non taxable when they are Take Out. This includes salads, non carbonated drinks, etc. Most registers are programmed with two tax rates. One for eat in and one for take out. The items that are not taxable To Go are exempted from the take out tax.

The result will print Take Out tax, but again it just depends on how their system is programmed. We normally program our registers to combine the taxes and just print Tax.

Answer 6

It is sales tax on prepared food.