It is no secret that the Federal Tax can be confusing at times. Those who do not have hands-on experience in filing and paying federal taxes are mostly unaware of the various intricacies. While Federal Taxes can be confusing, State Taxes are on a whole new level altogether. Every state has their own set of tax and allied rules to garner revenues. From local industries to resident income levels, state-level taxes vary from place to place. In this parlance, let’s have a look at some quite queer taxes, which are quite prevalent in the various states in the U.S.
Lower Altitude Higher Tax in Kansas State
Everyone must have had the fantasy of soaring across the clouds in a hot air balloon. Kansas State does have a queer rule in this regards. If the hot air balloon is tethered to the ground, it will attract amusement tax. Whereas if enabled to roam free, the hot air balloons will be considered as transport and do not attract any tax.
Bagel Tax in New York
This one is a strange tax indeed. It is no secret that New York is home to the most delicious of bagels and is a specialty there. While they taste great, one might have to dish out some extra cents for the fashionable ones. The uncut bagels are tax exempt, but the designer bagels are imposed with 8-cents tax.
Fruit Fracas in California
Sunny California does have a strange tax imposed on sliced fruits and salads or preparations of fruits. A 33 cent tax is implied on the prepared dishes and fruit delicacies. It does imply that one has to be extra careful about what they buy from the grocery store or be roped in the fruit tax confusion.
Candy Taxes For Some in Illinois
Illinois has one of the most confusing tax that one can come across. IT has a 5 percent tax on candy over and above the 1 percent food tax. Strangely though, candies with flour are exempt from tax as flour is deemed as an ordinary edible food. This gives rise to a scenario where some candies are taxed and some are not.
Tax Exemptions For 100-year-olds in New Mexico
Turning 100 is a huge milestone to reach. It does call for a great deal of celebration and fanfare from friends (if they are still around) and family. If someone resides in New Mexico, turning 100 can come with some added benefits over the natural celebrations. In New Mexico, the elders who turn 100 and more are exempt from State Taxes. If someone resides in the state for six months and is a resident on 31st December and if they are not dependent on someone else’s income, they are exempt from tax.
Tattoo / Body alteration tax in Arkansas
Arkansas promotes natural living, it seems. No alteration to the bodies like piercing or tattoos is encouraged. If someone goes ahead with the same anyway, a 6 percent tax is levied for the pleasure. Electrolysis is also brought into the purview of this tax.
Cowboy Tax in Texas
Taxing for being a cowboy sounds weird in the first place. Its mind boggling if it happens in nowhere else than Texas. The big cowboy belt buckles are subject to tax while normal smaller belts are tax-free. So one must be prepared to pay some more to be an authentic cowboy dresser.
Blueberry taxes in Maines
Blueberries are a specialty in Maine. It does not come as a surprise that Maine tax one of the best revenue source that they have. One has to pay 1.5% of tax on per pound of blueberry. The homely blueberry pie, this comes at some extra cost in Maine.
4th of July Tax in West Virginia
West Virginia is always deemed as a patriotic state. But it does push the patriotism card a bit too hard when 4th of July celebration novelties are taxed. The sparkles or celebratory items are taxed in West Virginia. One must be patriotic enough to dish out some extra bucks to get the novelties for celebration. Sellers also have to accrue selling certificate at additional cost.
