24 May When stores charge the wrong sales tax

Q. I went to two dollar stores that are still charging 7 percent sales tax. I’ve told them three times and they said they don’t have to change. Is this correct?
— Shopper

A. Nope. It’s not correct.

All New Jersey merchants must charge the correct sales tax.

The tax was lowered from 7 percent to 6.875 percent in 2017, and it will be lowered again to 6.625 in 2018.

No company gets a pass, but not all items are subject to sales tax. Check this list from the Division of Taxation to make sure the items you purchased should be charged tax at all.

While you feel like you’re getting ripped off, there’s a good chance the salesperson doesn’t know the drill. Sales tax charged is typically programmed into registers, so you need a manager, or better, if you’re talking about a chain, the corporate managers.

If the company refuses to make the change, it’s time to contact the Division of Taxation.

You can ask for a refund by filing Form A-3730.

Then you can report the company — or any other suspected tax cheats — on the website for Citizens Against Tax Cheats, or CATCH, or by calling (609) 292-6400.

If you want to read more about chains that have made sales tax errors, check out this Bamboozled column.

Email your questions to .

This story was first published in May 2017.