The state Department of Revenue reminds restaurants, bars and taverns that they no longer should be collecting a half-percent King County food and beverage sales tax.
The tax was imposed in 1996 to pay for the construction of Safeco Field and ended Oct. 1, 2011 after the county notified the state that the bonds were paid off.
Despite department efforts to notify affected businesses, the agency continues to receive reports about businesses that are still collecting it, according to a Monday, March 26 media release from the state Department of Revenue.
“It concerns us that some businesses are still collecting this tax nearly six months after it ended,” Department Director Brad Flaherty said.
King County restaurant, bars and taverns should collect the state and local sales tax rate percent of 8.6 percent to 9.5 percent on their sales, depending on their location, not 9.1 percent to 10 percent.
The sales tax rate for most of Kent is 9.5 percent. Tukwila also has a 9.5 percent rate.
Mike Gowrylow, spokesman for state Department of Revenue, said in an email that the state did not have a list of restaurants that have charged the incorrect tax.
“Unfortunately, we only have anecdotal evidence, namely periodic complaints from consumers,” Gowrylow said. “We don’t have a list or know which ones continue to collect the tax. It is impossible to ascertain from the tax returns without auditing the businesses.”
The state has been contacting businesses that are erroneously collecting the tax to provide them with correct reporting instructions. It also is working with industry associations to help get the word out to any businesses that have yet to update their cash registers.
Businesses that have inadvertently charged the food and beverage tax should refund it to customers upon request.
More information is available at http://dor.wa.gov/stadiumtaxes.
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