So I just started a new job that has a lot of positives. Less stress, better wages, and some other tangibles and intangibles that put a smile on my face.
But it involves keeping up to date on sales tax rates in several American states which I've never done before.
One of those states is Missouri.
God damn it Missouri, why can you people not figure out a single goddamn statewide sales tax rate like sane people? What is this motherfucking fuckness?! I have to keep track of one hundred and sixty goddamn sales tax jurisdictions that are often separated within municipal boundaries? Fuck.
why can you people not figure out a single goddamn statewide sales tax rate like sane people?
A lot of the answer to this because St. Louis is comprised of an incredible number of little municipalities, and they all vigorous defend their sovereignty. And surprise surprise, a big reason so many municipalities exist is racism. In the era of white flight, these municipalities were able to put up all sorts of restrictive covenants et al to keep black folks out. And nowadays their budgets are mostly just paying for cops.
HEY! I live in that state! And I’ll have you know it’s not as bad as you described. IT’S MUCH WORSE!
Part of the problem is that Missouri and Missourah are actually two separate states that have bamboozled us into thinking they are one, so as not to disrupt the MIMAL elf. They care very strongly about elementary school geography lessons and think naming him MIMMAL would be too confusing for kids.
It's like they say in Missouri: "I ain't never goin back to Missouri!"
That's how we do it here in Ohio, too. I didn't realize it was different in other states. They have one sales tax rate for the whole state?!?
I do the bookkeeping for our small engine repair business, and I've been so thankful all our customers and work have been in the same county.
I didn't realize that concern wasn't even a thing in some states, and now I'm so jealous. You guys get abortions AND a single sales tax rate for the whole state!?
I think the thing is most states have a statewide sales tax, and municipalities can charge more on top of that. That’s what most states have but IIRC if OP is outside of the US I think they only have to worry about that statewide tax because those states streamline it. Missouri just says “fuck it” and makes foreign businesses pay each local rate because there is no state rate, which disincentivizes them to do business.
I’m kinda rusty though on all this, could very well be wrong.
Exactly right, I'm from Canada, I've never had to deal with US sales taxes before. It's bonkers. It's so much easier up here. Most provinces have a single unified rate and system called "harmonized sales tax" aka HST. It's remitted to the federal government and they do the legwork to send the proper funds in turn to the provinces.
It's also dead simple to keep track of. HST owed is HST collected on receivables minus HST paid on payables. The math is literally that easy.
I agree, fuck Missouri. But it was pretty great until last year when they STILL HADNT IMPLEMENTED A WAY TO COLLECT SALES TAX ONLINE IN 2022.
