Regardless of your feelings about Valentine’s Day, most everyone can agree that the holiday can be expensive. From the fancy chocolates to the dozens of roses, the celebration of love can come with a price, but does that price include sales tax?
According to CNBC, Americans spent an estimated $19.6 billion dollars on Valentine’s Day last year to pamper the ones they love. While gifts like jewelry and flowers are typically subject to sales tax, others such as chocolates and candy come with a few conditions.
In some states—Arizona, California, Michigan and Pennsylvania, to name a few—candy is considered a food item and therefore exempt from sales tax. Whereas in other states like Connecticut and Maryland, candy does not fall under the definition of food and is subject to sales tax. And here’s a tip: if you’re shopping for the perfect Valentine’s Day chocolate in Indiana, be sure to grab one that contains flour, assuring you won’t be charged tax.