Tax question for conventions

[my3sons]

If you buy MFW at a convention, you are only charged sales tax if it is a convention in MO (because that is where they are located), is that correct?

If you are a resident of another state, but buy MFW at a MO convention you would have to pay sales tax?

Just thinking ahead....

[cbollin]

answering indirectly b/c it is not an easy answer.....


Pretend you live in Indiana or TN, and travel to Missouri to visit the inlaws. You have to go to the store while you are there. The store will not ask you what state you live in. You will be charged sales tax according to the laws of Missouri because that is where the store is.

Now... what if it is a traveling store like a book dealer at a trade show (i.e. homeschool vendor)
When vendors set up business in convention halls, sales tax is determined by the laws of that state where the meeting is, not where the company's home office is.
So, when XYZ vendor sets up in Ohio, we'll pay Ohio tax if we buy it in Ohio.

I lived in Indiana, drove to Cincy convention -- I pay Ohio sales tax to the vendor (whether it was MFW (a MO based company) or Todd Wilson - good ole hoosier boy).

What about online sales? Well, it depends on the laws of the state where you reside. way too complicated for this discussion.

does that help any?

-crystal

[my3sons]

Yes.... guess it is worth a call to the office when convention time rolls around!

Thanks Crystal!

[cbollin]

Yes.... guess it is worth a call to the office when convention time rolls around!

Thanks Crystal!

Well, ok. let me start over... when I lived in Indiana there were a few years where I drove to ST. Louis to visit inlaws and JenniferF. Jenn and I went to the convention nearby. I bought stuff from MFW there. I was charged MO sales tax.

so, you'll be charged MO sales tax if you buy at a MO convention, but I don't know the percentage on that right now

-crystal

[my3sons]

LOL I gotcha now! Thanks for the clarification.

Sounds like I save a bit by ordering online and paying shipping rather than buying at convention and paying sales tax. That is what I was wondering!

[cbollin]

LOL I gotcha now! Thanks for the clarification.

Sounds like I save a bit by ordering online and paying shipping rather than buying at convention and paying sales tax. That is what I was wondering!

This might be hard to believe, but it also depends on the sales tax laws of your state regarding online ordering. When I lived in Indiana we had to pay Indiana sales tax on online orders. The vendor didn't collect it -- we had to pay it directly on our state income tax in April. It will vary state by state on that.

However, there is a bit more involved in the decision to buy at convention or not that goes beyond the shipping vs. sales tax question.... here's a classic post from MFW's David Hazell on the topic. makes for interesting food for thought.... on the topic of "Thoughts on purchasing at convention "

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3471

-crystal

[cbollin]

p.s.

I just wish MFW would come to Memphis convention.......


I don't live in Indiana anymore.....

sniff

[Julie in MN]

You don't live in Minnesota, do you? MACHE has forms for getting a tax exempt number in MN.

Julie

[meagabby]

p.s.

I just wish MFW would come to Memphis convention.......

sniff

I know how that feels.

hey crystal, they come to Birmingham... 3 to 4 hrs from memphis I think.

I've driven more than 3 hours twice to see them at conventions.

[Lucy]

Just a heads up that the Alabama Chef convention will not be in Birmingham this year. I took this off of their site for those of you who are interested:

In 2010 our twenty-second annual convention is scheduled for May 14-15 at the Sumatanga Camp and Conference Center in Gallant, AL, which is located between Birmingham and Gadsden.

Lucy

[cbollin]

Just a heads up that the Alabama Chef convention will not be in Birmingham this year. I took this off of their site for those of you who are interested:

In 2010 our twenty-second annual convention is scheduled for May 14-15 at the Sumatanga Camp and Conference Center in Gallant, AL, which is located between Birmingham and Gadsden.

Lucy

interesting heads up....


(in mocking friendly tone)
Thanks Lucy. just when I thought I could have an excuse to sing a parody song to the tune of Sweet Home Alabama..... (road trip alabama.... where I can crash a vendor booth)......

uh never mind...
...... it goes from 4 hours away to over 5.

Let's see... Searcy, AR?


-crystal

[momtogc]

MFW was at the Arkansas Homeschool Convention in Searcy last year. I hope they plan to attend again in 2010. Searcy shouldn't be far from Memphis. We drove 3+ hours. It was a small, but fun convention with an event for the kids. My dd loved it.

As for tax, looking at our receipts, we ordered ADV at convention. It was shipped and we paid shipping but no tax, which was actually cheaper for us by a few dollars. One vendor that we purchased some extra items from charged 8% sales tax and I got the items there so no shipping; another one charged 10% sales tax and shipped everything but no shipping charge. The year before we bought at a Texas convention and paid 8% sales tax on items purchased and picked up at convention. It's all very confusing but I think if you are buying a complete package, whether online or at convention, it all comes about the same within a few dollars. I would strongly recommend ordering at convention if you are able. It makes it worthwhile for the company to bring the items for you to look at and keeps them coming back. JMHO

[cbollin]

MFW was at the Arkansas Homeschool Convention in Searcy last year. I hope they plan to attend again in 2010. Searcy shouldn't be far from Memphis. We drove 3+ hours. It was a small, but fun convention with an event for the kids. My dd loved it.

Well, they'll have their new convention schedule up in a few months .. let's see this is Nov..... It's just a hard transition for me as it was at a convention in 2003 when God put MFW in my path. I just can't imagine not going.... but. enough about that.

As for tax, looking at our receipts, we ordered ADV at convention. It was shipped and we paid shipping but no tax, which was actually cheaper for us by a few dollars.

interesting..... sales tax laws vary widely from state and state. But you're right -- usually the dollar amounts differences aren't all that big of a deal. Agreed... if you go to convention, buy it there. We all want vendors to attend those things. Got to make it worth it to them.

I've heard that when MFW runs out of stuff and someone has to order at convention they don't charge shipping. very confusing

[TriciaMR]

I've heard that when MFW runs out of stuff and someone has to order at convention they don't charge shipping. very confusing

My experience has been that almost all vendors do this at convention - if they run out, they ship it to you free. Abeka will eat shipping costs when you order at convention (or one of their special displays during the year), too.

Our sales tax rules in our state are confusing. We have a 3.5% state rate, then there is an RTD rate (regional transportation district) for the Denver metro area (and maybe other areas, I don't knwow, and then each county and city has a rate on top. By the time were done, where I live it is 8.1% sales tax. But, if I order at convention, they only charge me the state + RTD rate... Go figure!?!?

No wonder the internet companies don't want to have to pay sales tax on orders - it depends on your exact address what your tax rate will be.

-Trish

[JenniferF]

You can still come to visit me in St Louey Crystal! Further drive but aren't I worth it??

[cbollin]

You can still come to visit me in St Louey Crystal! Further drive but aren't I worth it??

of course you are. hmmm.... april 8-10th.... hmmm...

-crystal

[momtogc]

As for tax, looking at our receipts, we ordered ADV at convention. It was shipped and we paid shipping but no tax, which was actually cheaper for us by a few dollars.

I've heard that when MFW runs out of stuff and someone has to order at convention they don't charge shipping. very confusing

MY BAD! I looked at the receipt and order form again and while it does have shipping charges, I talked with dh about it again tonight and we finally remembered that I ended up ordering MFW online after we got home from convention because I still had not figured out whether to use ADV or ECC. Also at convention I ordered/picked up MFW curriculum for two friends who were unable to attend - so I got totally confused about what I brought home, what got ordered and so on. I'm so sorry for the additional confusion! In any case, I still believe buying at convention is the best way to go. That is what I have always tried to do because it shows support for the vendors. Next year there will be no confusion for us - we will using ECC.