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Author	Topic: In the State of Pa you don't pay taxes on food, clothes or medications. Why is gasoline taxed?	Post a Reply Back to Topics

altlandf Sophomore Author Pennsylvania Posts:247 Points:24,345 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 9:14:54 PM Ignore altlandf Report Abuse I was just thinking about this in the State of Pa we don't have to pay taxes for food, clothing or medications (Some really need it). So why do we have to pay taxes on gasoline and other fuels? Without gas or diesel our society as we know it would collapse. How would the trucks get the food, clothing and medication to the stores? See what happened during Super Storm Sandy? I feel we need gasoline and it shouldn't be allowed to be taxed because it's a necessity in life. Do you think that people that only get 15 hours a week like the fact of spending over half their pay to fill their gas tanks up? I seen a person that purchased 20 gallons of gas and their bill was $69.20. What crooks at Rutters. Fastest way to lower gas prices... Scott Hartman behind bars. A couple weeks ago Rutter's annouced 4 cent off a gallon then a couple of days later the gas prices jumped 5 cents. Then on December 31 gas price jumped 10 cents for no reason. January 9 they went up another 5 cents again for no reason. Another thing I was wondering how can they charge nine-tenths of a cent? Do we have a tenth of a cent? No we don't. I got this idea from Superman 3. Just go to youtube and type in Superman 3 computer hacker. Richard Pryor's character that worked for a data entry company. He got mad when he got his first check. He was suppose to make $225 a week but he only made $143.80 his first week. His co-worker actually said you actually made $143.80 and a half cent. Large corporations have fractions of a cent just floating around their companies. Richard programed the computer collect the fractions of a cent to put it in his acount. This is why I feel that the nine-tenths of a cent per gallon should be illegal.

altlandf

Sophomore Author
Pennsylvania

Posts:247
Points:24,345
Joined:Aug 2003

Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 9:14:54 PM

Ignore altlandf Report Abuse

I was just thinking about this in the State of Pa we don't have to pay taxes for food, clothing or medications (Some really need it). So why do we have to pay taxes on gasoline and other fuels? Without gas or diesel our society as we know it would collapse. How would the trucks get the food, clothing and medication to the stores? See what happened during Super Storm Sandy? I feel we need gasoline and it shouldn't be allowed to be taxed because it's a necessity in life. Do you think that people that only get 15 hours a week like the fact of spending over half their pay to fill their gas tanks up? I seen a person that purchased 20 gallons of gas and their bill was $69.20. What crooks at Rutters. Fastest way to lower gas prices... Scott Hartman behind bars. A couple weeks ago Rutter's annouced 4 cent off a gallon then a couple of days later the gas prices jumped 5 cents. Then on December 31 gas price jumped 10 cents for no reason. January 9 they went up another 5 cents again for no reason. Another thing I was wondering how can they charge nine-tenths of a cent? Do we have a tenth of a cent? No we don't. I got this idea from Superman 3. Just go to youtube and type in Superman 3 computer hacker. Richard Pryor's character that worked for a data entry company. He got mad when he got his first check. He was suppose to make $225 a week but he only made $143.80 his first week. His co-worker actually said you actually made $143.80 and a half cent. Large corporations have fractions of a cent just floating around their companies. Richard programed the computer collect the fractions of a cent to put it in his acount. This is why I feel that the nine-tenths of a cent per gallon should be illegal.

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RNF Champion Author Indiana Posts:7,093 Points:2,871,975 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Apr 23, 2013 6:36:00 AM Ignore RNF Report Abuse What does Pennsylvania collect sales tax on?
davisadm All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:557 Points:408,425 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Apr 22, 2013 11:11:52 AM Ignore davisadm Report Abuse The taxes pay for road maintenance.
2Tall Champion Author Maryland Posts:12,772 Points:2,940,405 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Apr 22, 2013 7:43:42 AM Ignore 2Tall Report Abuse write to the Governor.
wbacon Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:13,404 Points:2,981,310 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Apr 22, 2013 5:03:48 AM Ignore wbacon Report Abuse Those three things are deemed to be necessities
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,279 Points:2,141,975 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Apr 22, 2013 3:30:38 AM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse The only state that collects sales tax on prescriptions, IIRC, Is New Mexico.
PassmyGas Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:294 Points:662,705 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2013 10:06:00 PM Ignore PassmyGas Report Abuse because we need gasoline to get around and taxing fuel is a guarantied income for the state.
J Eric Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:10,264 Points:2,069,980 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2013 10:04:07 PM Ignore J Eric Report Abuse The logical answer: gasoline is an "easy" thing to tax. Gee, you guys get off without paying tax on clothing or medications? Lucky!!! Here everything of that nature is taxed. Well, except marijuana, maybe. But a component of gasoline taxes is a Federal excise tax (funds going to pay for highway building and maintenance, I understand). So even if the Commonwealth (you call it "state") were not to tax gasoline, fuel would still bear some sort of tax upon it.
gougenator Champion Author Dallas Posts:29,847 Points:3,243,950 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2013 9:22:56 PM Ignore gougenator Report Abuse they TAX ,candy sodas, gatorade, and non-food items here like fridges, stoves, most stuff in a department store durable goods they DONT TAX ....OTC medicine, many food items gas gets taxed as a separate deal ,federal 38.4 , state 18 cents in Texas they dont "coupon" gas ,,but they do discount with grocery cards ,and credit cards have 5% back on gas purchases,,,,usually laws allow this [Edited by: gougenator at 4/21/2013 9:24:04 PM EST]
nichols Champion Author Halifax Posts:6,841 Points:1,830,150 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2013 10:03:31 AM Ignore nichols Report Abuse easy to collect
bluenvoy Champion Author Nashville Posts:14,954 Points:1,874,715 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 28, 2013 10:23:49 AM Ignore bluenvoy Report Abuse In PA you pay tax on any profit you get when you sell your house. Even if you buy a new one.
Saab93turbo Veteran Author Washington Posts:480 Points:84,260 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 8:10:40 PM Ignore Saab93turbo Report Abuse The more one exempts, the bigger the burden on other items. In theory, food should not be taxed but food is so plentiful that it may be ok only to exempt medication from sales tax. If gas is exempt, then most things should be exempt....books, tv, gas, computer, phone, clothes, restaurants, food, cars, etc.
mr_thumper Sophomore Author Fresno Posts:216 Points:77,660 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 7:28:48 PM Ignore mr_thumper Report Abuse It's a way for politicians to channel more "pork" back to their home boys!
EvPv Champion Author Maine Posts:1,028 Points:263,750 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 5:59:20 PM Ignore EvPv Report Abuse a person can live without using the roads (it would be tough) or even the products that travel on the roads (MUCH tougher). Fuel taxes are really a user fee to pay for the upkeep of the roads and infrastructure (bridges).
Michael29644 Champion Author Greenville Posts:4,956 Points:841,325 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 5:18:59 PM Ignore Michael29644 Report Abuse "Each state has its own sale tax rules. In South Carolina, all of the items you mentioned are taxed at 6% (plus usually 1% based on locale) to equal 7%." Titanic1985, Which items were you referring to that are taxed in SC? Food (except for that which is prepared for immediate consumption, like at a grocery store deli or restaurant) and prescription medications have been exempt from sales tax in SC for many years.
wbacon Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:13,404 Points:2,981,310 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 5:02:17 PM Ignore wbacon Report Abuse talkto your state legislator
H_Holcomb Rookie Author Pennsylvania Posts:38 Points:83,905 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 4:59:34 PM Ignore H_Holcomb Report Abuse Guess you did not see the Gov talk in Jan Gov. Tom Corbett will seek $1.9 billion in new funding for roads, bridges, mass transit and other transportation modes coming from the gas tax here in PA. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/corbett-wants-19-billion-from-gas-tax-to-fund-pa-transit-672673/#ixzz2OmCTC5wi
BartandLisa Champion Author Newfoundland Posts:2,135 Points:417,450 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 4:53:55 PM Ignore BartandLisa Report Abuse Groceries, clothing and health-related items are all deemed to be necessities, unlike gas which is a luxury. In this jurisdiction, there is no tax on home heating or insurance premiums, for example. These days, we often forget that everyday modern possessions used to be considered luxuries as well. Hence, tax on gas just like alcohol and tobacco, etc. Realistically, it is just too big of a cash cow for governments to ever relinquish.
PithyOpiner Champion Author Stockton Posts:16,195 Points:1,595,595 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 11:50:44 AM Ignore PithyOpiner Report Abuse I wrote to your governor and he wrote back and told me it was an oversight. They will enact legislation this summer to tax you guys on food, clothes and medications. He thanked me for bringing this to his attention.
MertieMan Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,778 Points:2,893,660 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 23, 2013 7:30:33 AM Ignore MertieMan Report Abuse Infrastructure my friend, to pay for the roads you supposedly drive on everyday.
traffic cop Champion Author Boston Posts:1,240 Points:534,600 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Mar 21, 2013 8:26:03 PM Ignore traffic cop Report Abuse With Obamacare being phased in, there will be a Federal tax on "medical devices." This will be the walker for grandma, Grandpa's hip replacement, your kids orthodontia, Uncle Fred's pacemaker, and maybe the X-ray machine when the hospital buys a new one. Who knows what else...nail clippers, maybe? Something to think about while you're in the emergency room triage desk, waiting for them to find a translator for the woman with a headache ahead of you.
Titanic1985 Champion Author South Carolina Posts:6,246 Points:357,120 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Mar 21, 2013 10:39:43 AM Ignore Titanic1985 Report Abuse Good Morning altlandf, I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania leaving for military service in 1969. For as long as I can remember clothing, prescription medications and groceries (not eat out foods) have been exempt from sales tax. I have never know how or why those items are exempt, except for an effort to help those most in need. Each state has its own sale tax rules. In South Carolina, all of the items you mentioned are taxed at 6% (plus usually 1% based on locale) to equal 7%. Pennsylvania citizens are blessed with these three exemptions as they constitute a large portion of a family's budget. South Carolina has a $300.00 sales tax ceiling on new & used car purchases, even a Class A RV Motor home costing $250,000.00, but we pay localized annual property taxes on these vehicles and the tax NEVER goes to zero no matter how old the car is. My late brother lived in Indiana and fuel prices posted on the pumps were charged an additional sales tax (a Gas Buddy recently mentioned this again, so I presume it is still being done). The nine-tenths of a cent per gallon is addressed by the Moderators of this Web Site, so you can read that explanation there. The other items in your topic are subjective & I am not qualified to answer them. My advice, since you seem a bit agitated, is to count your blessings and focus on them. Did you know that Pennsylvania was the only state to pay $25 a month for those from PA serving in Vietnam? There are many things in life that are not "fair", but there are good things too :-). Take care :-) . MGY
OceanArcher Champion Author Mississippi Posts:5,698 Points:1,326,425 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 3, 2013 4:45:52 PM Ignore OceanArcher Report Abuse Ya can't eat it (food), ya can't wear it (clothes), and it ain't drugs ... so its taxed
nichols Champion Author Halifax Posts:6,841 Points:1,830,150 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Mar 3, 2013 10:56:45 AM Ignore nichols Report Abuse easy money
traffic cop Champion Author Boston Posts:1,240 Points:534,600 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 10:53:18 AM Ignore traffic cop Report Abuse Pithyopiner, the Sarcasm Police are monitoring your posts! (At least you're concise!)
PithyOpiner Champion Author Stockton Posts:16,195 Points:1,595,595 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2013 1:06:00 PM Ignore PithyOpiner Report Abuse That is outrageous. If you don't have to pay taxes on Food, Clothing or Meds, you shouldn't have to pay taxes on Gasoline. I would write my assemblyman for an explanation if I were you. I think you are getting a good old Sandusky hug.
Dennis783 Champion Author Des Moines Posts:13,584 Points:2,701,935 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 15, 2013 8:35:28 AM Ignore Dennis783 Report Abuse taxes are all political decisions
alphanyr Champion Author Connecticut Posts:4,810 Points:673,800 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 3:17:11 PM Ignore alphanyr Report Abuse ?
alphanyr Champion Author Connecticut Posts:4,810 Points:673,800 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 3:17:08 PM Ignore alphanyr Report Abuse ?
PithyOpiner Champion Author Stockton Posts:16,195 Points:1,595,595 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 2:52:27 PM Ignore PithyOpiner Report Abuse I agree with you, altlandf. It is outrageous that you peeps there in PA don't "have to pay taxes for food, clothing or medications." I feel your pain and have fired off nasty emails to both houses of the PA state legislature damanding that those taxes be enacted and imposed on those items at once.
traffic cop Champion Author Boston Posts:1,240 Points:534,600 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 11:38:49 AM Ignore traffic cop Report Abuse You've got some valid gripes, altlandf. Food isn't taxed, methinks, because it is an absolute & essential necessity of life. Use of a motor vehicle is not, and thus an option. Same with medicine. Clothes? I wouldn't object to a tax on super-expensive items, say, something over $350.00. I think you can dress nicely with garments costing less than that. Over that, you're into brand-name fashion and status. (I'm a thrift-store zealot, myself.) Basic retail mark-up is 100%: buy a hammer for $25, it cost the hardware stoe $12.50. Food is the lowest mark-up, averaging 10%!! That's why Giant Food does these remodeling. They're engineering your shopping experience so you inclined to buy more (volume), and buy stuff you don't need (like housewares). They want to tempt you into buying that scented candle or kitchen appliance, which has that 100% profit margin. I should change my username to "King of Cheap"!!
altlandf Sophomore Author Pennsylvania Posts:247 Points:24,345 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 10:58:11 AM Ignore altlandf Report Abuse Hey Trixie didn't someone fill you hay rack lately? Did you lose your wool last week when they shaved it off for the sheep to shaw contest? Another thing I can't seem to understand is there's no talk about OPEC anymore. That used to be the gas industry main excuse for raising the gas prices up. You notice that none of the people that sell gas have problems expanding. On Saturday's York Daily Record they had an article in the paper the fact that Giant Food had just completed MAJOR REMODELS of two stores. Again MAJOR REMODELS. Yes Giant waved their magic wands to remodel the stores really cheap. I also can't understand how people can afford their prices. Maybe if the government would stop wasting money on stupid stuff they could build more roads without taxing gas. The President is going to be sworn in next Monday. Did you hear how many millions that's going to cost? Just a waste of money. Why swear the President in again if he was re-elected?
2Tall Champion Author Maryland Posts:12,772 Points:2,940,405 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 9:01:27 AM Ignore 2Tall Report Abuse governor loves them, got to make $$$
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,649 Points:2,358,995 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 11:27:11 PM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse I am guessing to support the road systems as in other states. Virginia is taking a new approach, as stated in an article on GasBuddy, a proposal to raise the state sales tax and drop the fuel tax. Seems the right way to go and less cost on fuel.
Yonkers111 Champion Author Scranton Posts:8,331 Points:857,085 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 11:24:24 PM Ignore Yonkers111 Report Abuse Each state determines how much they need and how to get it.
traffic cop Champion Author Boston Posts:1,240 Points:534,600 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 10:50:41 PM Ignore traffic cop Report Abuse For one thing, food,clothing, and medications are necessary for the sustenance of life. Use of a motor vehicle (and its fuel) is common, desirable, and often necessary, but it is not essential.
Saab93turbo Veteran Author Washington Posts:480 Points:84,260 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 8:12:05 PM Ignore Saab93turbo Report Abuse Why not pay tax on food and clothes?
Gas_Buddy Champion Author Maryland Posts:25,964 Points:3,033,090 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 7:08:09 PM Ignore Gas_Buddy Report Abuse Forgetting that this topic originally was supposed to be (I thought) about taxes on fuel, we really are using Richard Pryor movies as the basis or rationale for discussions about tenths of a cent at the gas pump? And, maybe I'm wrong, but wasn't a similar topic started quite a while ago concerning the tenths of a cent issue, and wasn't the "I saw a Richard Pryor movie" rationale used at that time?
ZZZoop Champion Author Virginia Posts:16,372 Points:3,124,485 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 5:43:24 PM Ignore ZZZoop Report Abuse >>No offense but this sounds like the rambling thoughts of a less than stable individual.<< What, you don't find referencing Superman 3 as a source of "ideas" to be a sign of stability?
OceanArcher Champion Author Mississippi Posts:5,698 Points:1,326,425 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 1:50:12 PM Ignore OceanArcher Report Abuse With respect to the comment/question of the 9/10 cent --> Go to your local library, and get a book "The Hidden Persuaders" by Vance Packard. It has several pages in there dedicated specifically to pricing schemes ...
brerrabbitTX Champion Author Houston Posts:1,025 Points:18,185 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 10:57:47 AM Ignore brerrabbitTX Report Abuse No offense but this sounds like the rambling thoughts of a less than stable individual. Okay the state (and it's like this in many states) does not charge taxes on certain goods. But the reality of the situation is that taxes are charged to the produces, distributors, and retailers of those goods which means that while you pay no obvious tax when you buy those goods, it does not mean that taxes were not paid as part of the price you pay for the final good. The government needs the taxes generated by fuel tax to pay for road maintenance. Roads that are used to deliver clothing, food, and medications to retail outlets for you to buy. Imbedded in the cost you pay for those goods are the cost of fuel that the distributors pay. That cost is passed on to you the consummer. So lets say that the state agrees to stop charging fuel taxes to individuals and only charge commercial users. The state needs the same revenue so the commercial tax rate triples so you as a consummer get gas tax free. Guess what? The cost of all you tax free items increase to offset the additional expense incurred by commercial users. Now since I really have no choice when it comes to food, clothes, and medicine because I have to buy them but I can choose to cut my gas consumption by driving less, taking the bus, riding the train or pulling out my bike, I would rather they continue to charge the fuel tax I can to some extent avoid by not using gas rather than the huge price increase on the items I cannot avoid purchasing such as food, clothes, and medicine. You really need to research and understand the economic concept of "no free lunch". The rounding thing is a total urban legend. It does not exsist. Think about it the very nature of taxation in this country on a percentage basis creates the same dilema every day. How many fractions of less than a penney occur every day based on tax rates of 5.25% or 6% or 8.25%? A ridiculous argument from the start. The Federal fuel tax is even 18.6 cents a gallon. How do you pay .6 cents? Maybe you should think about what you write before you write it.
TrixieNY Champion Author Buffalo Posts:2,702 Points:655,680 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 5:43:55 AM Ignore TrixieNY Report Abuse Another scary rant by altlandf, why not post some gas prices?
MertieMan Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,778 Points:2,893,660 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 5:17:50 AM Ignore MertieMan Report Abuse Gasoline is taxed everywhere to maintain the infrastructure.
jes Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:16,155 Points:3,350,525 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 5:02:24 AM Ignore jes Report Abuse To fix the roads.
herbiepopnecker Champion Author British Columbia Posts:13,596 Points:2,505,355 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 1:20:43 AM Ignore herbiepopnecker Report Abuse food clothing and shelter are necessities and the majority believes the necessities should not be taxed. Gasoline is a luxury, a want and the majority seems to have forgotten that. You are completely free to ride a bicycle, walk or take the bus if you don't want to pay gas tax.
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,279 Points:2,141,975 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:26:27 AM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse On Jan 10, 2013 11:13:31 PM, maxstar wrote: >exactly what is the point of your comments altlandf? IMHO, altlandf comes here to complain about the way the world works.
maxstar Champion Author Chicago Posts:18,477 Points:808,570 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:13:31 AM Ignore maxstar Report Abuse exactly what is the point of your comments altlandf?
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,279 Points:2,141,975 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:03:55 AM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse On Jan 10, 2013 8:14:54 PM, altlandf wrote: >I was just thinking about this in the State of Pa we don't have to pay taxes for food, >clothing or medications (Some really need it). So why do we have to pay taxes on >gasoline and other fuels? Fuel taxes go to pay the cost of road construction and maintenance (or at least that was the original purpose). >Another thing I was wondering how can they charge nine-tenths of a cent? Do we >have a tenth of a cent? No we don't. Fuel is purchased in bulk. The typical gas pump dispenses in increments of a thousandth of a gallon, three decimal places. The price is entered to three decimal places. The total, however, is in dollars and cents.
WEPSMAN Champion Author South Dakota Posts:10,513 Points:2,023,800 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 9:45:34 PM Ignore WEPSMAN Report Abuse Gas taxes are used to fund and fix highways. I know not all roads are in good shape, but that is the purpose of the tax.