Question about sales taxes

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Fri Jul 27, 2001 11:55 pm

I've got a question...

I won a couple of free extra value meals at McDonalds thru their monopoly game they have going on right now, and want to know if anyone knows the answer to this...since the meal is free, can the cashier charge you sales tax? I went to one McDonalds, and they charged me 25 cents sales tax for the FREE meal. The next day, I went to a different McDonalds and they didn't charge me the sales tax...who's right?

DVD Rewinder · Post by **DVD Rewinder** » Fri Jul 27, 2001 11:56 pm

You should have asked to talk to the manager about that 25 cents. Yes it is only 25 cents.. but its the moral. They cannot charge you the tax unless it says on the monoply thingy something about paying the tax

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Fri Jul 27, 2001 11:57 pm

I really didn't think much of it until I got the second meal and they didn't charge me the sales tax...

lurker · Post by **lurker** » Fri Jul 27, 2001 11:59 pm

They're not suppose to charge you if its free. I would've complained and sued for 1 million like that kid that ate the maggots.

Immortal · Post by **Immortal** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 12:00 am

sue mcdonadls for 25 cents

DVD Rewinder · Post by **DVD Rewinder** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 12:03 am

Actaully if i remember my 8th grade Social Studies class correctly you can only sue for something $20 or more. Now if you want to add social anger and distress onto that 25 cents... your gonna have a fun time explaining that to the judge

CompGeek83 · Post by **CompGeek83** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 12:04 am

nope, its against policy at mcdonalds and most other restaurants to charge tax for "free" food, but not illegal, as the "goods" are still changing hands, its kinda complicated and im not sure i understand why but......

cableboy · Post by **cableboy** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 12:05 am

I rip off Mcdonalds REAL good. Me and my friend saved our cups for the free refill machine and everytime we are done work we go there with the same old cups and get free sodas.

It just says free refill- not only free refills per visit

Immortal · Post by **Immortal** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 12:08 am

ooo cable boy... that's a good idea!....

lurker · Post by **lurker** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 12:09 am

Originally posted by cableboy
I rip off Mcdonalds REAL good. Me and my friend saved our cups for the free refill machine and everytime we are done work we go there with the same old cups and get free sodas.

It just says free refill- not only free refills per visit

You genious.

cableboy · Post by **cableboy** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 12:11 am

Originally posted by lurker

You genious.

genious != genius

lurker · Post by **lurker** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 12:17 am

Originally posted by cableboy

genious != genius

Thats why you're the genius

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 1:16 am

errr.umm.......wash them maggots out of them cups first.

crazyman · Post by **crazyman** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 1:18 am

yes they can charge you tax,like at the pc stores here,I see ads all the time for a product for $10 with a $10 rebate but you have to pay the sales tax.at least here in Cal thats the law.

crazyman · Post by **crazyman** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 1:22 am

Originally posted by cableboy
I rip off Mcdonalds REAL good. Me and my friend saved our cups for the free refill machine and everytime we are done work we go there with the same old cups and get free sodas.

It just says free refill- not only free refills per visit

you do that for a measly dollar?

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

and that makes you feel good to "ripoff macdonalds real good".?

I feel bad for you,get a better job if you can't afford a soda.

how about a little integrity?

Immortal · Post by **Immortal** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 1:43 am

a buck? a buck is 20 min of phone call...

just dial... ??????????? forgot the number... 99c for up to 20 min and just 10 cents each minute after that!

DVD Rewinder · Post by **DVD Rewinder** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 1:52 am

think about it though.. say he does it for 1 week, 5 days a week.. coke is about 1.60 i think and buys a new drink (new cup, old cups get dirty over time) every sunday

thats about 8 bucks he just saved right there. then say he spent 1.60 on a new coke every week.. that means 6.40 profit every week. 6.40x50 weeks a year (coupla vacation times)

totals out to 320 dollars a year! look how much hes saving!

Immortal · Post by **Immortal** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 1:56 am

that is considering he drinks nothing but pop from mcdonalds.. heh

DVD Rewinder · Post by **DVD Rewinder** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 1:56 am

I wonder what would happen if McDonalds started selling beer...

crazyman · Post by **crazyman** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 2:01 am

Originally posted by DVD Rewinder
think about it though.. say he does it for 1 week, 5 days a week.. coke is about 1.60 i think and buys a new drink (new cup, old cups get dirty over time) every sunday

thats about 8 bucks he just saved right there. then say he spent 1.60 on a new coke every week.. that means 6.40 profit every week. 6.40x50 weeks a year (coupla vacation times)

totals out to 320 dollars a year! look how much hes saving!

well ya,you could also save alot of money by gassing up your car and not paying,or shoplifting,or any number of ways people figure out how to steal.

I for one would rather have a clear concience.

Chrome · Post by **Chrome** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 2:15 am

Probably depends on the state, but i think it would be safe to assume that if money does not change hands, then sales tax would be zero. If anything, and you wanted to get real technical, you might be required to declare it as income. I'd be willing to bet that the owner of the MickeyD's that charged you tax is pocketing it. Next time I'd tell the place to take x% of the free ticket and send it to the state/city tax commision. If you really want to have fun, call McDonald's local corporate HQ and your local/state tax commission; it could likely be tax fraud or against company policy.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 7:38 am

Sales tax on food will vary in different counties and cities in any state. In my area, I can pay different prices for the same meal at different locations.

Teirney · Post by **Teirney** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 11:12 am

It always says "Tax Is Extra" on those freebies. Fine print stuff.

rickabilities · Post by **rickabilities** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 3:09 pm

Originally posted by crazyman
yes they can charge you tax,like at the pc stores here,I see ads all the time for a product for $10 with a $10 rebate but you have to pay the sales tax.at least here in Cal thats the law.

Of course you're going to have to pay tax because you are initally being charge $10. so by law u are obligated to pay tax on that. but in the case of paying tax for a free meal I just don't understand that

How can they charge tax on something that is free, where no money is supposed to change hands. if you were to multiply 0 by any number, you get 0. tax is just a simple multiplication of a constant number and the price of the product. so if the product is 0, then the final price should be 0 also.

CompGeek83 · Post by **CompGeek83** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 4:02 pm

some locales have food and meal taxes that are imposed, technically you are paying for the food and their giving you the money right back if its a coupon