That's what my sister told me, but when I looked at the sales receipt from my purchase at the Nordstorm Rack store near Pike Place Market, and saw that the "high sales tax" was only 8%,

IIRC, from doing my taxes this year and checking, we're at 8.8% for goods in Seattle, and 9.3% for dining.

IL doesn't offer any kind of breaks, except for mags/newspapers, AFAIK.

Which is why at least 3 families I know in Chicago-area come to MN for school clothes shopping. Sales tax here is 7.25%, climbing up to 10% in the 2 downtowns & the airport area, and 13% for liquor. However, we do not get taxed on clothes & non-prepared food.

I think I can buy bottled water tax free. Newspapers are taxed, but it's included in the published price (at least that's the way it shows up pn the receipt if yo buy one from Walgreens) And food is half a percentage point less than other things, or something similar. I think about half the sales tax goes to the state and half to the parish. A store I worked at got in trouble with the state for having a "We'll pay the sales tax" sale because the ads suggested people might want to avoid paying taxes.

Wow, I'm veering dangerously close to free asociation.

Huh, not feeling too bad about the 5% sales tax here (or the 5.something% up in ME).

We were Taxachusetts for what reason, again? I assume it must have been property or state income, 'cause it's been 5% sales since I've been here.

The income tax was the main reason I think Frank, and in part, I think that's because our upstairs neighbor, NH, had no state income tax. Like Nutty said though, their property tax was through the roof.

Isn't the Maine state sales tax higher--like 8% or something? It always seems to me that the outlets in Kittery aren't that good of a deal, after I check out at the register.

I think we used to be Taxachusetts, but are no longer. Although Governor Mitt would like to take credit for all of it, in fact his income tax rollback recently was only from 5.6% to 5%. (And anyway, I think that was referedum-mandated.)

We're not taxed excessively; we're just communists!

I love how we get the option to pay the higher rate, if we like (at least we did, one tax year).

Isn't the Maine state sales tax higher--like 8% or something? It always seems to me that the outlets in Kittery aren't that good of a deal, after I check out at the register.

Actually, now that you mention it, I think that's right (the 5.something% is the current MA income tax, right?). Seriously, unless you have to have LL Bean (and I'm not sure if they tax on catalog sales), you're better off hitting Wrentham if you want Outlet style shopping.

Never wore a jock strap, except for as a method for wearing a cup, though I remember in Jr. High and Highschool we were required to own one for P.E.

On the other hand, not wearing a cup in those particular activities where you're highly likely to get nailed in the tender bits? CRAY-ZEE.

Definitely. Such as a combat LARP and you're the tallest person on the battlefield, meaning your groin is at the same level as most people's stomach. The couple times I've forgotten my cup, I've ended up regretting it.

Actually, you now pay 9%. It went up July 1. (not sure if that's for all of Cook County or just Chicago, tho)

This is why I do all of my major shopping in Wisconsin.

Per the data I was able to find, Maine is also at 5%.