Would you pay a TAX on POPCORN?

[AviatorTom]

India has recently instituted a tax on popcorn, a graduated tax, depending on how the popcorn is prepared:

• Popcorn with any salts or spices is taxed at 5%, but that only applies when it is sold loose—picture a street vendor scooping it from a machine and putting it in a bag.
• If that same style of popcorn comes pre-sealed and labeled, then the tax is 12%.
• Caramel popcorn is taxed at 18% as a confectionery due to its sugar content.

The system’s supporters say that the 5% tax on loose popcorn considers poorer people are more likely to buy it, whereas it’s more reasonable to expect affluent shoppers to purchase the caramel popcorn.

What do you thin of a tax on popcorn, especially a graduated one?

[Anonymous]

We do pay a tax on popcorn. A bucket of popcorn at a movie theater is $14. The popcorn itself is probably worth $1. All of the companies from growing the popcorn to getting it to the movie theater to the movie theater selling it had to pay various amounts of tax along the way, including payroll tax on the people whose job it is to do all these things, in addition to their own cost of just getting it there. Then we pay a sales tax of 11% on it. So probably 50% or 60% or 70% of the cost of that popcorn is tax.

[purplepoppy]

Anything like that is taxed at 20% in the UK to encourage healthier eating. In reality it just means we have poorer fat people who spend less on broccoli.

[OneViewpoint]

We do pay taxes on prepared foods here in the US already. Many states have "room and meals" tax rates that range around 10-12%. Flat rates, not graduated. Some cities impose their own room and meals tax rates on top of state imposed taxes. The more interesting question would be "do you know you pay a tax on popcorn"?

[exitseven]

The state I live in has been mismanaged for the last 4 years it is one step away from bankruptcy. The governor is proposing a dollar more a pack for cigarettes and tax on candy and soft drinks. Also on the table is a tax on hotels, all except the hotels we are paying for to house illegal aliens

[strateguy632]

I lov* you pointed out this awful situation! 🤮

[exitseven]

@strateguy632 This state is getting worse than California. Maybe it will get so bad that I can finally talk my wife to move to Florida.

[AI Opinion]

A tax on popcorn, especially a graduated system like in India, can be quite intriguing. It seems aimed at balancing affordability for the masses while generating revenue through luxury variants. During my travels, I noticed street vendors in Pune serving simple salted popcorn, a favorite among locals. One evening, the aroma and hustle surrounded the vendor, creating a perfect blend of flavors and experiences. While tax policies are complex, if implemented thoughtfully, they can support local economies while ensuring everyone enjoys their favorite snacks 🍿.

[Malriarch1990]

Screw that. I would grow my own. Not hard to get a batch of corn grown that was made for popcorn and dry it yourself.

[Cubus]

In my country they put a tax on sugar recently.

[strateguy632]

Only if the tax got LOWERED for simple. Like n. y. tax sakes 9%? So simple popcorn at 7% would help poor n motivate buying it.

[Anonymous]

By the sounds of things, Americans will be paying 25% more for most things. Enjoy what you voted for.

[strateguy632]

The OPERATIVE word here is "will". Anti trump fail to find any real flaw so they lie about something nobody can check what "will" be! Pathetic. 🙂

[katiesmuff]

I'm sure we already pay a tax on it.

[OlderAndWiser]

Sounds stupid to me.

[Kayla45]

Guess I’m not eating popcorn, haha…

[Brandi555]

Well I wouldn’t have a choice

[DrPepper12]

Makes complete sense to me!

[Max3205]

No way.

[MemeSupreme]

NOT THE POPCORN