Sales Tax Rates Continue Climb
For years, many communities in Alaska have laid claim to the highest sales tax rates in the nation. But no longer, according to a report by Vertex, Inc., a provider of sales tax research data and compliance solutions for enterprise businesses. But no longer.
Mar. 04, 2010
For years, many communities in Alaska have laid claim to the highest sales
tax rates in the nation. But no longer, according to a report by Vertex,
Inc., a provider of sales tax research data and compliance solutions for
enterprise businesses.
The Vertex 2009 Sales Tax Rate Report (PDF) shows a record-setting number of state increases
over the past year, plus more increases across all levels of sales taxing jurisdictions
in the U.S. since the 1940s. Rates vary widely across all states, and especially
between cities, counties and special districts, such as mass transit zones.
The report shows the average state sales tax rate in the U.S. is now 5.468%.
Add in to this the average county rate of 1.629 and the average city rate of
1.532%, and the combined average sales tax rate across the country is now 6.629%,
the highest since Vertex began tracking the data in 1982.
The highest state sales tax rate:
California, at 7.25%. (IN, MI, NJ, RI and TN tie for second at 7%).
The new overall highest combined sales rate:
Arab, Cullman County, Alabama, with a combined (city/county/state) sales tax
of 12%.
The new highest city sales tax rate:
Catawba Indian Reservation in Lancaster County, South Carolina, with a municpal
rate of 8%.
This tops the 2008 top city rate found in Wrangell, Alaska (7%).
Sales taxes are an integral revenue source for states, counties and cities
across the U.S. While they may be a point of contention for some consumers,
keeping up with the thousands of different rates can be a major challenge for
retail businesses and professionals who help them with compliance. Especially
for those with collection and reporting requirements in many jurisdictions.
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Vertex is a good source for sales tax compliance systems for businesses with
very comprehensive needs. The CPA Technology Advisor’s review of additional
options for small business sales tax compliance needs is here: 2009
Review of Sales & Use Tax Systems.