A sales tax is a tax paid to a governing body by a seller for the sales of certain goods and services. Usually laws allow (or require) the seller to collect funds for the tax from the consumer at the point of purchase.
Laws may allow sellers to itemized the tax separately from the price of the goods or services, or require it to be included in the price (tax-inclusive). The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale.
When a tax on goods or services is paid to a governing body directly by a consumer, it is usually called a use tax.
Often laws provide for the exemption of certain goods or services from sales and use tax.
Read more about Sales Tax: Types, Effects, Sales Tax Avoidance
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