You keep using that word...

[flybye023]

Something reminded me of this incident, maybe because it’s tax season.

I worked as a cashier at a retail store. One day a customer came through my line and after I’d rung everything up she asked for a tax-exempt form. I was a little surprised because as I was ringing she was telling me about the project she was doing with the stuff she was buying and it was for personal use. But, not my job to question a customer’s tax-exempt status—either they are and have the information to fill out the form or they’re not and they don’t.

As luck would have it, I didn’t have any forms (because, really, no one *ever* asks for these) so I had to chase one down which probably took about 10 minutes. Of course I come back to an upset customer, but I apologize, hand her the form and figure we’re done.

SC: What’s this

Me: The tax exempt form?

SC: I’ve never seen one like this!

Me: (don’t know what to say) well…it’s the only one we have.

SC: Look, I’ve been shopping all day and all of the stores have given me the correct form. I don’t understand why you can’t.

At this point, I really don’t know what to say because I don’t know what she’s getting at. She starts ranting about sales tax and how she "shouldn’t have to pay" blah blah "tax exempt form" blah. Now I'm really confused because our store is in Oregon. Where there’s no sales tax.

Me: I’m not sure what you mean…why would you need a form to exempt you from sales tax?

SC: Because you’ll charge me sales tax and I don’t want to pay it! I shouldn’t have to!

So I’m thinking “we’re in Oregon. You’re not paying sales tax” but I can’t get a word in edgewise as she’s ranting again. finally I get a break so I quickly interject “ Ma’am, where do you think you are?”

Long pause.

SC: I…guess I don’t know.

Me: Well, you’re at the store in <town not far from but definitely inside Oregon’s border>

SC: (deflates quickly) Oh. Well, I don’t need *this* exempt form either then

as she hands back the only tax exempt form we had and actually apologizes.

[Slayer]

I want to live in Oregon now !

I didn't know that. That's cool.

Well, not her, but at least she owned up to it in the end.

[Food Lady]

Scammer. That's all I can think. Or crazy. Take your pick. ETA: By the way, my state does charge sales tax, and a tax exempt form isn't required at my store (we fill it out electronically), but I have had customers bring pre-printed ones in, and I have seen forms that look different from each other. So I don't know what she means by "proper" form. Again, scammer....

[bainsidhe]

I'm confused. If Oregon doesn't have sales tax, why would anyone ever need to fill out a tax exempt form? What's the purpose of their existence?

[flybye023]

It's actually more of a tax reimbursement form. And you're right, in Oregon you wouldn't need one. However, if you are an Oregonian shopping in Washington, you would need to fill it out if you didn't want WA sales tax.

I don't really know the process because I don't shop in WA all that much so it's not worth the hassle to me.

This happened awhile ago but if I remember correctly she and her husband had gone across the OR/WA border a couple of times that day, then down the OR coast and back up to our store on their way back to Portland so it had been a busy day for them with lots of driving, but still.

[telecom_goddess]

I love not paying sales tax in Oregon. Now if they would just get rid of the state income tax

[Moosenogger]

It's funny, I work in an international airport, and I've only had about 3 people ask for a tax exempt form in the 5 years I've worked there. People do ask me if we still charge tax in our store, and I tell them "Yes" since we're still inside the terminal. Once people go past security and get to the gates, then they can visit the Duty Free shop and not worry about tax.

[simplyanother]

We have tax exempt forms--and with every single tax exempt transaction, we're to have one filled out.

People who get the Glitter Hell tax exempt card... are always freakin arguing with me about it. "I have this card, I don't have to fill one out!"

"yes, you do. EVERY SINGLE time. All of them. Each and every single one. Yup. You do you do you do".

Bah.

[Andara Bledin]

Wow, that sounds like a total nightmare.

But rules are rules, and if they don't like it they can pay the tax, then get it back at the end of the year. It's not like it's rocket science.

^-.-^

[Sonoma]

I love not paying sales tax in Oregon. Now if they would just get rid of the state income tax

Just did my taxes tonight. Ugh. At least this year I don't owe the state.

[bunnyboy]

Ah tax exemption.

Love what the rules are for Oregon.

No tax on permanent goods (cars, clothes those sorts of things.)

Completely voluntary on the part of the out of state establishment.

Which means if they charge tax on food, smokes, booze. You still pay.

[smfrazier]

Years ago when I worked at a convenience store I had a customer come up with a cup of soda. He claimed to have a tax exempt card at home and didn't have to pay sales tax. Now it is my understanding that you're only exempt from sales tax if you are buying something that you intend to resell, so the tax is passed along to the consumer. So unless he was going to sell that soda to someone else he still would have to pay sales tax even if he had a valid card with him.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Now it is my understanding that you're only exempt from sales tax if you are buying something that you intend to resell, so the tax is passed along to the consumer.

Another major use of tax exempt forms in the US is for the diplomatic community. They are exempt from paying sales tax in the US and they have IDs and documents that validate their exemption. They do have to file out the forms so the state doesn't accuse the store of withholding sales tax from them.

[Jay 2K Winger]

Now it is my understanding that you're only exempt from sales tax if you are buying something that you intend to resell, so the tax is passed along to the consumer.

Another major use of tax exempt forms in the US is for the diplomatic community. They are exempt from paying sales tax in the US and they have IDs and documents that validate their exemption. They do have to file out the forms so the state doesn't accuse the store of withholding sales tax from them.

Correct. This is how it worked when I worked at the wholesale club. You could make tax exempt purchases-- if you had filed your paperwork with the member services' desk and purchased a tax-exempt business card. There were two types of tax-exempt cards, though. One was the "retail" card, for business where the product(s) being purchased was/were going to be re-sold to consumers. One was the "exempt" card, which was used by diplomats and NPOs.

There were the occasional problems when the paperwork on file expired-- and hence their ability to be exempt from taxes would likewise expire-- and they would be very upset that they had to pay the taxes. Never mind that all they had to do was refile the paperwork, and then they can bring back the receipt from the taxed order to get the taxes taken off and reimbursed.

[NateTheChops]

I want to live in Oregon now !

New Hampshire is closer to where I live.