White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-04-25

If you have been puzzled by the de-
tails of the sales tax which goes into
effect next Wednesday, May 1, and
wondering just how you would pay it,.
perhaps this series of questions and
answers, prepared by the Washington
State Tax Commission, will help you:
Question: I hear the state is going
to charge per cent of each retail sale.
Answer: Exactly.
O.: What's retail sale?
A.: Well, the Tax Commission says
it's sale of tangible personal property
like an automobile, a radio or sax
aphone.
O.: Is that all?
A.: No. If you buy the article for
reselling or for consuming in produc-
ing for sale new article or substance
the bought article to be used as an
ingredient or component-or If it's q
chemical used in processing, you don't
have to pay tax. n
Il. O.: Some examples, please. -
A: Not considered retail sales and
hence nom taxable under the law are
sales of feed to persons producing for
sale milk, eggs, wool, fur, meat or other
substances obtained from livestock, an
imals or poultry.
q: 1t seems to me this sales tax
makes the consumer pay all the bill.
A: The consumer always pays the
bill. He's affected by property taxes
even if he doesn't own property. When
taxes are upped SO is his rent. And
other taxes are the same Eventually
the consumer is the man who pays.
But we're all consumers.
@: That sounds reasonable. But
what about food? Is that taxed, too?
A: Not staple commodities. If you
buy the following foods and eat them
away from the store, you don't have
to pay any tax: Fresh sweet milk,
canned milk, raw Impressed fruits
and vegetables, butter, eggs, cheese
and unsweetened bread in loaf form
which includes rolls and buns.
@: How are you going to spend the
money you collect from the sales tax?
A: Nearly 18th of the fund-about
$1,450,000 goes for relief.
q: What's the other 4-5ths for?
| A: Nearly 3-5ths goes to the public
schools, and almost S per cent of the
total goes TO higher education-the
state university, college, and three nor
NAL schools. Less than 18th goes tt
/, the state general fund.
q: What's the last fifth for?
A: The states got to have money
to administer the law, and run Other
departments and state institutions, ane
that fifth helps to pay for the work
Besides, S per cent of it goes to helr
pay old age pensions. Further, as 20,
know, the state can't levy on rea
estate for state purposes
@: Let's talk about exemptions. VIVA
about my dentist? Is he going tt
charge me 2 per cent extra for eacl
filling?
A: Not on your life His is service
transaction. He pays u of per cen
on his gross business income, ant
that's all there is to it.
@: Suppose I'm farmer and wan
to sell gun or COW to my neighbor
Does he have to pay me a tax, ant
do I have to pay it to the state?
A: No. Casual sales made whe,
you're not regularly in business, ar
exempt from tax
@: Do I have to dig up token ever
time buy a newspaper
A: Most certainly not. Newspaper
are exempt too
@: suppose gasoline is exempt be
cause it already is taxed?
A: Correct.
q: What if ! buy an article on con
tract before May l, yet have to max
payments afterwards? Do I owe tn
seller money, and does he have to pa
a sales tax?
A: That depends. If you actual
I own the article that is, have title
1t before May l, 1t won't be taxed.