In the UK it is 20%. Compared to USA and Canada, this seems a lot!

Another EU member Austria 20%, Croatia 25%
But there are few categories like food that are taxed at lower rate.

It is 16% in Mexico. Food is tax free.

And for the sake of a complete thread: 19% VAT in Germany

The current sales tax rates in Washington, DC are:

• 5.75% for tangible personal property, no sales tax on groceries and prescription drugs
• 10% for alcohol sold for off-premises consumption
• 10% for restaurant meals, takeout food,

California sales tax is 7.25%, but with additional local taxes for public transit and maybe other stuff my sales tax is 9.25% which includes restaurant food. No tax on services, food, or prescription drugs. The base for property tax changes when real property changes hands, so our property tax is much lower than many of our neighbors'. Commercial property tax tends to be very low because commercial property changes hands less often than residential property. I understand California is supposed to have a fairly high income tax rate. Our tax on cigarettes is very high. I think there's also a local soda tax in a few jurisdictions, but since I don't drink the stuff it's not on my radar.

6% sales tax in Maryland. It was 5% until just a few years ago. But our property taxes and state income tax rates are some of the highest you will find. I didn't realize how high so many other places were!

Utah varies by county, our little rural one is 5.95% Salt Lake is close to 1% more.

There is no sales tax in Oregon but our income tax is the 3rd highest in the nation at 9.9%. Property taxes are average, and depending on how your county votes, you may be looking forward to paying for a $480 million school bond, while still paying for school bonds approved in 2014.

We moved her 7 years ago and still love it : )

Part 1

Hi all, I am back. About time. I am going to make two or three different posts. Hopefully I can post shorter ones before they suddenly "blank out or disappear". Sure there is a correct term for that, but I don't know what it is. Just know it is irritating.

Jalleen, Pat, Brooklyn, Sara, Elizabeth, Tina, and Anne, Thank you for your comments. Very interesting. Seems like no two tax rates are the same.

Off topic for a moment. Pat I have great memories of being in the White Mountains Resort area a few years ago. The morning we were leaving, shortly after getting on the highway, we saw a moose to the side of the road drinking water. Others were stopping and getting pictures also. Very casually, it seemed, when she or he finished drinking, looked up toward us and just stood there for a bit and then started wandering back to the wooded area. The first and only moose I ever saw in person. Exciting experience!

Anne, what a streak of luck you had with the tax change, and I am sure, well earned salary increase.

part 2

Hi, Kathleen, Annagybe. Runcarla, Sal, Style Fan dakotacheryl and Sterling. Thank you for your input. All very interesting.

Sterling, actually my original post was inspired by your comment on another thread about the tax in North Carolina. I moved here from Florida and the taxes are higher here, but after hearing what other people in different states and other countries are paying (most of them) we pay less overall. In reading further, it seems to me that in our state, we have different tax rates for different regions or counties. My taxes are 2% on food and 7% on non food and clothes. Thanks for helping me out on this.

FYI, fabbers not living in this country, we do pay a federal income tax, first and foremost.

In the Netherlands VAT (BTW) 21% ( some things like medicin is 6%). Incometax from 36 till 52 %. Also propertytax and tax for watermanagement (waterschap).

NJ used to be 7% until this year, now it's 6.875%. There is no tax on clothes, thank goodness. But we have some of the highest real estate taxes in the country. I think NJ is very pretty, but I have no plans to retire in NJ because of the cost of living here.

part 3

Cindysmith, thank you for posting, I may not remember the sales tax rate in Texas, but I will think more about the "sin" tax in Texas. Your comment re: taxes on firearms is interesting.

LaPedestrienne, thanks for posting. Please see my comment in Part 1 above directed to Pat. Too bad about the cost of housing there.

Ryce, Thank you. I appreciate your saying you understand how I look for and relate to the unusual. Our type humor is not "dark humor". Actually, just the opposite. Cheerful and upbeat, I think.

Your comment on taxes at massage parlors and escort services cracks me up.

Part 4

Krishnidoux, Thank you. Between the years 2003 and 2013, I was in Canada almost every summer and loved it! But I never did figure out the exchange rate thing. To be honest, I didn't even try. I was having too much fun to worry about that.

Fashiontern, I believe you live in Florida, Right? I lived in Florida before I moved to North Carolina, and have lived in a few other states. It seems to me that Florida had the lowest tax rates.

Anne, people in all states pay Federal Income tax, but not all states have a state income tax.

part 5

lisap, Glory, B.C., Jane, Anchie. Thank you so much for posting. This thread has been so interesting for me!

Sara, I hope there will be a turn-a-round for your state soon. As you say, you do pay taxes, but not seeing the progress one would hope for.

JAlleen, I understand you had rather pay taxes to help with problems. Me too!. Here's hoping the situation there improves also.

Style Fan, you did not hijack my thread. If you had, I deserved it!. I have inadvertently hi-jacked more threads than I care to remember. I am just wondering why you prefer shopping in Montreal?

Krishnoudoux, I think you and Style Fan know all the best places to shop in Canada. I am sure they would be my favorites too. Or would have been. I have visited and vacationed quite a bit in Canada, but shopped very little.

danusia, thanks for posting. I take it you live in ne, Pa and not North East, Pa.. Am I correct?

Part 6

Jane , Anchie, Dianna, Thanks for posting!

I think there should be no taxes, or at least a reduced taxes on food. Also think it would be great if pet food was tax exempt. P.S.. I do not have pets.

Joha, thanks for your help.

citygirldc, Donna F, Janet, Rambling Ann, PdxRae, Thank you for posting. Donna, I had to chuckle about the soda pop. I don't drink that stuff, either.

And now, more reports from Netherlands and New Jersey. The Tulip Country and The Garden State, back to back. Adriana and Lisa, thank you.

We have a national election in 2 weeks, on 23 September. Our 15% GST is on everything. It started in 1987 at 10% then years later went to 12.5 % then to 15%. There is talk of being like Australia where certain healthier foods do not attract the GST, to encourage healthier eating and maybe help obesity rates decrease. But we are a small country and it would be complex. The political parties are debating some form of property or capital gains tax which we do not have. It is looking like a much closer election this time which is interesting. I am a swinging voter and still deciding! Tax policy is in the mix for my decision

Slovenia, Eu: 22%

Jenni and Adela, Thanks for posting.