New Jersey Taxing Decorative Pumpkins
Ah, New Jersey, the land of rampant over-taxation.
Fall is upon us and to celebrate New Jersey is taxing decorative pumpkins.
On their official Facebook page (yes, they have an official Facebook page) New Jersey’s Division of Taxation reminded consumers that decorative pumpkins are now subject to sales tax, whereas those used in food or for food remain tax-free.
From the Save Jersey blog:
…the Murphy Administration went out of its way to remind residents that yes, like most things in this state, your pumpkins ARE subject to the sales tax.
“Pumpkins used for decoration are subject to Sales Tax,” the Division wrote. “Pumpkins used for food or in food preparation are tax free.”
New Jersey’s state sales tax is 6.625%, down from 7% following the 2016 gas tax hike compromise struck between then-Governor Chris Christie and the Democrat legislature. Governor Murphy has agitated to raise it back to 7%.
In 2018, New Jersey farms cranked out 110,500 CWT (hundredweight) worth of pumpkins.
New Jersey is also consistently ranked as one of America’s most over-taxed states.
I’m sure our founders are super proud.
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Comments
Soo, just tell them it’s for food! Duh!
Actually I always make salted baked pumpkin seeds with mine, so it would not be a lie
It’s very possible that’s a felony.
I hereby declare that every pumpkin I purchase will be eaten. (by worms, at least. They make wonderful mulch.)
…and then you can use the worms to go fishing……
I solved this problem. I moved.
Never looked back.
In CA the sales tax does not apply to feed for “edible livestock”, but does, for example, to feed for horses.
Years ago my wife overheard my answer when the clerk asked “edible livestock?” and I responded “not unless the economy gets worse…”. Mrs. Wrangler was highly incensed that I would consider eating our horses. I’m more careful about my surroundings these days.
Even if pumpkins get faces carved in them, they are still suitable to be converted into pies and even feed for your edible livestock. My dog even likes pumpkin.
They eat horse in France and other parts of the EU.
What prayers and rituals are used to convert pumpkins to pies?
It’s called “boiling.” Lots of it. Or, canning. Pumpkins have a lot of water in them, and I get mine out of cans for that reason.
Do they tax smashing pumpkins?
Despite all my tax rage, I still feel like a taxpayer in a cage.
But I say if you smash them, it’s a purée.
Which is food. No tax.
Here’s some Pumpkins to tax.
BREAKING!
“Pelosi defies Trump, leads delegation on surprise trip to Jordan” TO PICK UP THEIR BRIBE MONEY!!!!
Snark.
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“Who’s seeing Russians and other U.S. enemies now?”
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This variety of pumpkin is generally not the variety used for pies, that is two other varietals, however it is the variety used for breads and cakes, and the seeds are used for snacks. It is also very much favored for animal food and is immensely with large herbivores. The zoos love the cheap food this time of year. You ought to see an elephant eating the treat.
Speaking of Pumpkins…….
Who’s pumpkin who?
Mark Zuckerberg Secretly Advised Buttigieg on Campaign Hires
https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2019/10/21/report-mark-zuckerberg-secretly-advising-buttigieg-on-campaign-hires/
Oh my! More Pumpkins – at Fox.
Greta Van Susteren: Fox’s Wallace Wants to ‘Smear and Cause Trouble’ with Anonymous Impeachment Claim
Gray TV’s Full Court Press host Greta Van Susteren has slammed her former Fox News Channel colleague Christopher Wallace for withholding his source while reporting that a “well-connected Republican” told him the GOP could vote to impeach President Donald Trump.
https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2019/10/21/greta-van-susteren-fox-news-wallace-wants-to-smear-and-cause-trouble-with-anonymous-impeachment-claim/
If you carve the symbol for 3.1415969…. into a pumpkin, does it become food ? Pumpkin pi?
And if you toss it into the air, is it
pi in the sky?
I hope you’re not part of the NASA team tracking near-earth objects
If you indicate in the carving that pi is raised to the t power you have “pie to the teeth” which would indicate that it is indeed food.
Isn’t a sales tax paid by the seller/merchant? I can see two piles of pumpkins: one for eating and one for decorations (with a 15% tax). One pile is going to be awfully small and one awfully large.
Sales tax is collected and remitted by the seller, but it’s paid by the purchaser.
The main thing that most people don’t understand about taxes – they’re always paid by the guy on the bottom rung. Everything else is a pass-through.
Is buying a pumpkin as food and then carving it punishable as tax evasion???/
I can’t get too worked up over taxing the decoration for the holiday of ghosts and goblins and weird spiritual stuff. But the taxation based on use certainly raises issues of implementation.
So…what about pumpkins grown in container gardens. Are those now subject to a special tax too?
I am so glad my parents drove straight through New Jerksey before settling in Ohio!
I purchase my pumpkins through charitable fund raisers. Doesn’t matter then if I carve them or not.
Should sue them and argue that Halloween is a religious observation and isn’t subject to taxes.