At the bustling intersection of 135th Street and Metcalf in Overland Park, shoppers who want to save on food only need to cross the street. Go to Sprouts Farmers Market on the southern side of 135th, and you’ll pay 8.1% sales tax on food. But the Hen House on the north side of the street, the tax is just 6.6%. Since Kansas’ sales tax rate on food dropped from 6.5% to 4% on Jan. 1, some shoppers have been surprised to see the rates they are paying don’t match the savings they expected. While some stores did struggle in the first few days to adjust their rates, the lingering confusion is now rooted in how sales tax rates can sometimes fluctuate block by block in ways many residents are unlikely unaware of. An array of special tax districts can add to your bill depending on where you’re shopping. When you go to the grocery store, you’re charged state, county and city sales taxes, which add up to produce the total sales tax rate. However, at stores that fall within a special tax district, which include community improvement districts, you’ll pay even more.
Source: KC Star Local News
