"Take Out Tax" at McDonalds, Is it a Scam? How do we file a class action lawsuit?

Question

So I'm in McDonalds and I get an Egg McMuffin.... $1.99
Lady at the register says total is $2.13
and I didn't think about it until I left.
Taxing 7 cents per dollar? instead of 5?!!

Is McDonalds allowed to have a 'take out tax' or is it a scam to collect an extra few cents from the billions and billions of people served?

Doesn't anything labeled 'tax' have to go to the government? Is McDonalds keeping a portion of this so called tax?
And why is McDonalds the only place in America charging a take-out tax?

If all of this is illegal how do we start a class action lawsuit?

sales tax I get, and understand it varies depending on location. I have never heard of the concept that if you decide to leave with the product, there is a different tax rate. That's lunacy. This is the work of a Republican I'm sure.

I'm gonna goto taco bell later today, and I'll get take out.. .and see whats on the receipt.

And how about drive through tax, is that another tax too?

Answer 1

Various states, counties and even cities have sales taxes. Thus it is very common to get a different tax rate at different nearby stores. The rules as to taxing "take out" food vary widely. In some states, if you carry it away from the parking lot there is no tax. In other states, if the food is prepared and ready to eat, then it is taxed even if you take it home.

I would suspect, knowing McDonald's, that they are following the local taxing rules to the exact letter of the law and all the money collected is going to the government. Often, smaller Mom and Pop stores do not understand the rules and collect (or fail to collect) sales tax properly.

Answer 2

I'd be real surprised if a company as big as McDonalds would try to run a scam re sales tax, so I'm guessing that it's legit. You don't say where you live or where this McDonald's is. There can be additional county or city sales tax in addition to the state sales tax, so if the Taco Bell is in a different municipality, the tax it charges might be different.

Answer 3

Many states tax "Prepared Food" differently from other food or other retail items.

You would have to check your specific states rule on the taxability of different items.

Collecting taxes and not remitting them to the state is a very serious offense and a very visable company like a McDonalds franchisee probably wouldn't take the risk.......hopefully......

Answer 4

Check your county; many of them have different tax rates for food eaten in instead of taken away.

Common; been that way for years here. Vendor has NOTHING to say about it.

Answer 5

florida tax is 6.5%..all the tax goes to the gov...all fast food is taxed..call your lawyer