Comments on: McDonald’s Eat-In Tax

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:19:22 +0000

I’m with you BJ. I was at a PinkBerry the other day and the sales lady actually recommended that I ask for it to-go to save on the eat-in tax.

The difference is nuts at a lot of places, I agree. I don’t really care if a company is profiting or not off of it, a very minor change on my part can save me money.

By: BJ

BJ — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:02:03 +0000

In Ohio you are NOT charged tax on any drive-thru or “to-go” orders. You are taxed on all eat-in orders. My company owns restaurants in Ohio and other states. We think this difference is nuts and this is a huge pain when programming but I guarantee that no company (even McD’s) is profiting off this. Unless the owners want to pay huge fines or go to jail once they get an audit.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:24:27 +0000

I was at a McDonald’s in Park Falls, WI on 01/01/2011. My brother ordered breakfast to dine in and was charged an “eat-in” tax. I ordered breakfast to go and was not charged an extra tax.

By: Beka

Beka — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:52:22 +0000

No, i went to McDonalds today, and they have both an Eat in tax AND a Take out tax! i ate with a friend of mine and her daughter in the play place, and my boyfriend called from work asking to bring him some. both reciepts has this “tax”. and if it matters, i live in Kansas. i see some people are mentioning it’s because you’re in CA.

it’s some BS.

By: James

James — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:16:26 +0000

I went to other fast food places and they do not have the same tax. So if your told it is required by law, they are full of nuggets! Jack does not charge for the same food like the clown.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 06 May 2010 04:09:55 +0000

Here’s the scoop on the CA “hot food” tax, if you are really interested. It is a state tax law that if an establishment serves hot food, then it must charge a sales tax. There is the option to “opt out” of this tax if the food item is “to-go”, but the establishment must petition the State Board of Equalization to do so. This is found in Regulation 1603, Section E, located here:

http://www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/reg1603.pdf

By: Barb

Barb — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 23:46:08 +0000

I don’t eat at Mc Donald’s since they charge a take out tax and an eat in tax. No other fast food restraunt charges those taxes in our state.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:33:58 +0000

There is a Take-out tax in state of connecticut….its getting ridiculous….

By: fordsuperchick

fordsuperchick — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:23:04 +0000

I found out today (the hard way) that they are now also charging a “Take Out Tax”. I did not go through the driver thru but ordered something to take with me after I dined in.

What is up with this?

By: joe

joe — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:13:40 +0000

I live in Ohio, we get charged eat-in tax if you order to stay. If you order to go, you dont get charged tax. I went to TacoBell and got chaged take out tax the other day. its all confusing to me.

By: Vicki M

Vicki M — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:13:50 +0000

In NH there is no sales tax. I noticed it to. But you get taxed either way. It doesn’t matter if you eat in or take-out, it is still taxed. I asked about it at the drive-through, of course they couldn’t explain it, unless I wanted to go in and talk to a manager. When you go to a restaurant here you pay a meal tax. So if that is it what it is why don’t they just call it a meal tax? Strange!!!

By: John P

John P — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:17:14 +0000

I went to McDonalds this morning and only ordered coffee through the drive through. They charged me tax even though according to CA law if its a hot beverage like coffee then its exempt from sales tax. Starbucks does not charge tax if you order a coffee. McDonalds is unjustly charging people tax.

By: david sizemore

david sizemore — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:15:42 +0000

I just noticed for the first time a “take out tax” on my McDonald’s receipt (even though I ate in), and no sales tax. It was 11% of the food bill; food tax in AR is 5.5% and non-food tax is 8.5%, so at least in AR, that extra 5.5% is not just the state tax. Somebody else is dipping into our pockets, and who would be more likely than MaDonald’s. I think you’re on to something, Lazy Man.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:30:45 +0000

In Australia, it states on the menu board eat in and take out are different prices, not due to tax but because the staff have to clean up after people.

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:14:01 +0000

I’m sorry if I confused everyone. For what it’s worth, I did NOT get charged any tax, state or otherwise the previous day I ordered it. So if it is state tax, maybe McDonald’s made the mistake of not charging me it then.

By: Joy

Joy — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:18:36 +0000

You guys are dumb there is no such thing as a scam McDonalds is running to get “eat in tax” from its customers. It is just the tax (yes sales tax most places have it). It is a state tax not a McDonalds tax.

By: NatalieMac

NatalieMac — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:03:47 +0000

In some states the state sales tax is a ‘luxury tax’ and is not charged on items that are deemed by the state to be necessities. Food and clothing, for example, wouldn’t be subject to state sales tax. However, some items are always luxuries, such as dining in a restuarant (yes, even if it’s McDonald’s) and buying soda pop, so those items are taxed.

Depending on your state, getting food to go in a restaurant may or may not be considered a luxury. Some states seem to think it’s the same as buying groceries if you get your food to go and don’t tax you, but if you stay in the restaurant and eat, then it’s a luxury, and you have to pay tax.

If you live in one of those states, you’ll notice that the cashier always has to know if your food is ‘for here’ or ‘to go’ before they give you your order total.

By: Greg C.

Greg C. — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:00:51 +0000

Like Dana I live in Ohio and had the same thoughts. We have “eat in” tax. When I lived in Maryland ALL fast food and restaurant was considered junk food and taxed at the non-grocery rate. Only grocery store non-junk food was exempt from the sales tax. Also on the drive through food in Ohio the “pop” ( junk food) is always taxed. My receipts always show the drinks itemized and with a sales tax that only applies to them. Then places like DE have no sales tax at all. This is a function of where you choose to live.

Also as far as I know, you are always responsible for tax and tip on “free” food at restaurants. I dont see how complaining about your state’s sales tax policies has anything to do with the business that just collects the taxes.

By: brittdreams

brittdreams — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:44:00 +0000

You actually didn’t have to buy a drink, that was what was in the fine print. All you had to do was ask for a burrito and they should’ve given you one (at least, that was the rule in GA).

By: Elliott Russell

Elliott Russell — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:33:14 +0000

it bothers me that they don’t let you know. I’m sure if they did that many people would not bother to stay.

Just think, when you goto to a nice place you Tip the workers, now when you goto a a cheap place you get to tip the company :S