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Ah, the halcyon days of being able to justify clothing purches under $110 are now over ("Do I need this crappy shirt? Well...it is tax-free..."): Accompanying a citywide tax hike from 8.25% to 8.625%, clothing under $110 will be taxed 4% and then the tax may go up to the 8.625%. In this instance, the blame for a tax hike doesn't fall on Mayor Bloomberg: The City Council passed the measure 47-3. NY1 reported the deal also includes:
- No increases in recycling fines;
- Having the city's aids and HIV assistance program remain intact;
- Protecting social services from $75 million in cuts due to the consolidation of several social service agencies, including the Department of Employment, Human Resources Administration and Children's Services.
Gothamist understands the need to increase the sales tax to support the city and its social programs. But confusion about when the tax hike goes into effect (Sunday? sometime next week? when?), well, Gothamist would like to blame Bloomby for that 'cause it just seems right. So it's all the more reason to hike to the Garden State for a little sales-tax-free shopping at the Garden State Plaza or The Mall at Short Hills.
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Those of us who sell things for a living and file regular sales tax reports are mystified. We've received no letters of notice, no new forms, nothing. What the hell is the deal? And if the state thinks I'm going to call THEM and find out, they're insane.
Oh drat! I was loving the no-tax thing. Moving here from California (where clothing was taxed at 7.5% or so), it was such a treat. Oh well, I guess it's a good excuse to go shop now before tax is implementated.
seriously- of course, you could follow the lead of that guy who owns gagosian and not charge any tax at all.
Calfornia, in addition to taxing clothes, requires one to use the word "implementated" rather than "implemented."
Don't think that raising taxes is necessarily the solution; in fact, such action may exacerbate the problems. In fact, because New York is already paying the highest tax rate in the nation (for instance, if you include this new tax rate with the city's income tax, residents of New York City will be paying upwards of 12 percent of their income to New York State and City, nevermind to the federal government (see: http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/74928.htm. See also: www.manhattan-institute.org ). While the City provides important social welfare programs, and the money has to come from somewhere, this tax-till-you-drop attitude will eventually dig the City into its worst financial crisis in decades. First, through Bloomberg's and the City Council's new policies, the City is driving out high wage earners, who are essential to fund the social services people rely on. Second, the higher sales tax rate will most effect middle class employees (and there are plenty of them in Brooklyn and Queens) who will now be forced to pay more for their products; their employers, now forced to pay higher income and sales tax, will be even more reluctant to offer them essential benefits, such as good healthcare coverage and pension plans. Third, there is even more reason now for New York residents to cross the river and shop in Jersey, so the City will lose both taxed revenue and retail employment. And the list of the devistating effects of the new taxes can continue endlessly.
Really, all I'm saying is don't be too glib about the fiscal crisis and the policies that both created it and are attempting to fix it. New York City is in a "code red" of fiscal mismanagement, and if you care about the City, you should care about the financial resources that drive it.
1) If you're gonna follow the Gagosian model, though, you'll need to jack up the price by 50-300%, then offer the arriviste fish you hooked only an 8.25%/8.65% discount.
2) Does this mean tips will also go up by 0.8%?