This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah lawmakers are looking to bring the sales tax charged on groceries back up to the full rate.

Idaho lawmakers are looking to remove their sales tax levy on groceries completely.

Utah is looking to create some kind of income tax credit to help low-income families deal with the regressive tax.

Idaho already has one and has decided it costs the state too much and doesn't benefit low-income taxpayers enough. (Though removing the credit will help offset the cost of removing the tax.)

Lawmakers step up push to repeal Idaho's sales tax on groceries — Betsy Z. Russell | The Spokesman-Review

"BOISE - Momentum for repealing Idaho's sales tax on groceries is growing.

"Eighteen senators and representatives gathered for a news conference Thursday to press for repealing the 6 percent sales tax on groceries and announced that there are up to 48 cosponsors for the bill, nearly half of Idaho's 105 lawmakers...

" ... Idaho's grocery tax long has been unpopular in North Idaho, where neighboring Washington and Montana sell groceries tax-free.

" 'Thirty-seven states have already figured this out, including all of Idaho's neighboring states with the exception of Utah," [Sen. Cliff ] Bayer said. ..."

Which States Tax the Sale of Food for Home Consumption in 2017? — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

"Forty-five states and the District of Columbia levy general sales taxes. Most of those states have eliminated, reduced, or offset the tax as applied to food for home consumption. ..."

Liquor, abortion, guns, taxes: Big issues for last 4 days of Utah Legislature session — Michelle L. Price | The Associated Press | sltrib.com

" ... Legislators are mulling a proposal to raise the sales tax on groceries, after dropping it a decade ago to 1.75 percent from 4.75 percent. The idea is to give Utah a more stable source of tax revenue because shopping and big purchases can drop off in a recession but people still buy groceries. Legislation addressing the proposal did not emerge by Friday, but lawmakers are looking at raising the sales tax on groceries while lowering the overall sales tax rate. ..."

Utah's lower sales tax rate on groceries should remain — Salt Lake Tribune Editorial

" ... One thing our elected officials should not do is try to balance the budget on the backs of those least able to afford it. ..."

" ... When the state moved a decade ago to sharply lower the sales tax on unprepared food, the principal argument for doing so revolved around the disproportionate burden a grocery tax places on low-income families. That argument is as valid today as it was then. As the current Legislature contemplates various changes to tax policy, any increase in the food tax should be considered among the least appetizing options. ..."

"Utah lawmakers have reached a deal to restore the state portion of the sales tax on some food items, but our 'Political Insiders' don't like that idea.

"Lawmakers say restoring the sales tax on food would help stabilize the tax base, but opponents say it's a regressive tax since it disproportionally affects lower income Utahns. Lawmakers removed the sales tax on food in 2007 as part of a broader tax reform package. ..."

Tax cut sounds good but won't do much — Twin Falls (Idaho) Times-News Editorial

" ... If lawmakers really wanted to help Idahoans, they'd remove the 6 percent sales tax on groceries. Under the current system, taxpayers can get a small rebate on their returns, but 31 percent of Idahoans don't file a state return, meaning lower-income Idahoans are hit the hardest. ..."

Grocery tax still hard to swallow — Coeur d'Alene (Idaho) Press Editorial

" ... Idaho's system of requiring people to file for grocery tax credits actually costs the state about $1 million simply to process all that paperwork. And for what? This tax is collected and held until people file forms to get their small share of it back. It does nothing to help our schools, our infrastructure or anything else of societal value. ..."

Tax food? Not so fast — Santa Fe New Mexican Editorial

" ... This tax discussion, in other words, is bigger than the food tax. Let's keep talking — with the goal to find enough money for the government to do its job properly without harming our most vulnerable citizens in the process."