FISCAL NOTE



FUND(S):

General Revenue Fund

Sources of Revenue:

General Fund

Legislation creates:

Neither Program nor Fund



Fiscal Note Summary


Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.


The stated purpose of this bill is to gradually eliminate the consumers sales tax on food and food products sold for human consumption off the premises where sold. As stated, the passage of this bill would eliminate the Consumers Sales Tax on food sold for human consumption off the premises where sold by a three-year phase-out. According to our interpretation, this bill would apply to food items sold at grocery stores. The following table provides estimates of revenue loss to the General Revenue Fund. Fiscal Year 2009 represents the first full year of removal of the Consumers Sales Tax on food sold at grocery stores. Sales of Food Meant for Home Consumption Only FY2006 -$46.4 million FY2007 -$97.1 million FY2008 -$147.8 million FY2009 -$152.0 million Additional administrative costs to the Tax Department would be about $24,000 per year until the tax is eliminated due to notifying taxpayers of the rate changes. Thereafter, there would be no additional administrative costs.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2005
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2006
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 23,925 23,925 0
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 23,925 23,925 0
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 -46,400,000 -152,000,000


Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):


As stated, the passage of this bill would eliminate the Consumers Sales Tax on food sold for human consumption off the premises where sold by a three-year phase-out. According to our interpretation, this bill would apply to food items sold at grocery stores. The following table provides estimates of revenue loss to the General Revenue Fund. Fiscal Year 2009 represents the first full year of removal of the Consumers Sales Tax on food sold at grocery stores. Sales of Food Meant for Home Consumption Only FY2006 -$46.4 million FY2007 -$97.1 million FY2008 -$147.8 million FY2009 -$152.0 million Additional administrative costs to the Tax Department would be about $24,000 per year until the tax is eliminated due to notifying taxpayers of the rate changes. Thereafter, there would be no additional administrative costs.



Memorandum


The stated purpose of this bill is to gradually eliminate the consumers sales tax on food and food products sold for human consumption off the premises where sold. The bill does not specifically define food or “food products,” nor does it provide guidance for the requirement that the food be sold for consumption off the premises where sold.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Mark Muchow
    Email Address: kpetry@tax.state.wv.us