HARTFORD – After the Department of Revenue Services issued a clarifying statement regarding the new “meal tax” this week, State Representative John Frey (R-111) came out strongly against the measure, saying it will hurt Connecticut families who already struggle to make ends meet and pay ever-increasing food costs.
Part of the Democrat state budget set to go into effect October 1, 2019, the “meal tax” adds an additional 1% to the cost of many items already taxed at 6.35%, but the DRS statement clarifies that the new 7.35% tax will also apply to many food items that have not previously been taxed when sold in grocery stores. The policy also results in a tax increase on all food items sold by restaurants and eating establishments.
“Instead of correcting the underlying problems that lead to continual state budget deficits, Democrats and Governor Lamont once again chose to take the same old road and raise taxes on the people of Connecticut,” Rep. Frey said. “Balancing massive budget deficits by raising taxes on the most essential item in our lives- our food - is abhorrent. Working class families and those struggling to make ends meet will undoubtedly feel the full pressure of these new and increased taxes.”
The tax will apply to prepared meals such as sandwiches, deli salads, pizza and hot buffet items, and also some packaged produce, small packages of snacks, loose baked goods, wrapped salads, small servings of ice cream, and meal replacement bars, among other items. It also applies to fountain drinks, including coffee, and any beverage sold with a taxable “meal.”
The DRS document explains that items sold at restaurants and eateries currently taxed at 6.35% will see a 1% tax increase. It also clarifies that the total 7.35% tax rate will also be effective in grocery stores, “which previously taxed meals in a different manner than other eating establishments.”
DRS Examples of Taxable “Meals” (taxed at 7.35% in eating establishments AND grocery stores):
- Sandwiches, grinders, and wraps;
- Popsicles, ice cream cones, cups, sundaes, and other individual servings of frozen desserts unless sold in factory prepackaged multi-unit packs;
- Ice cream, frozen yogurt, and other frozen desserts sold in containers of less than one pint;
- Salads sold at salad bars;
- Lettuce or greens-based salads sold in containers of 8 ounces or less;
- Salads that are not greens-based (macaroni, potato, pasta, fruit, etc.) sold in containers of 8 ounces or less;
- Donuts, muffins, rolls, bagels, and pastries (5 or fewer);
- Cookies sold loose (5 or fewer when cookies are sold by quantity, or less than 8 ounces when cookies are sold by weight);
- Pies or cakes by the slice;
- Prepackaged or factory-sealed bags or packages of 5 ounces or less of chips, popcorn, kettle corn, nuts, trail mix, crackers, cookies, snack cakes, or other snack foods, unless sold in factory prepackaged multi-unit packs;
- Pizza, whole or by the slice;
- Cooked chicken sold by the piece, including buckets of chicken, and whole cooked chickens;
- Cooked ribs sold by the piece or portion and whole racks of ribs;
- Hot dogs served on a bun or heated;
- Bagels that are individually prepared;
- Soup sold in containers of 8 ounces or less, unless sold in factory prepackaged units;
- Smoothies;
- Meal replacement bars;
- All beverages provided with the sale of a taxable meal;
- Food sold at a hot buffet;
- Food that is cooked to order;
- Popcorn, kettle corn, nuts and any other snack foods that are kept warm for purchase; and
- Items such as salads, side dishes, and rolls, when sold as part of family pack meals typically including, whole chickens or buckets of chicken, when prepared and sold for immediate consumption, even when the items exceed the weight or quantity limits specified above
DRS Examples of Taxable Drinks (taxed at 7.35% in eating establishments AND grocery stores):
- Beer, including nonalcoholic beer; & Wine
- Fruit juices, sweetened beverages, soft drinks, and soda;
- Carbonated water;
- Coffee or tea (ready to consume, hot or iced);
- Distilled alcohol such as brandy, rum, whiskey, gin, vodka, and tequila;
- Fountain drinks of any kind;
- Hard cider;
- Kombucha tea, and other naturally carbonated beverages;
- Malt liquor;
- Milkshakes;
- Hot chocolate;
- Syrup-flavored crushed ice drinks;