HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – Meals pantries in Mississippi are exempt from gross sales tax on non-perishable meals, however with regards to perishable meals, it’s a distinct story.
Feeding packages mentioned the gross sales tax on perishables can add as much as 1000’s of {dollars} per 12 months.
“By the requirements of what we pay in a 12 months for meals, it’s not an enormous quantity, however it’s a number of 1000’s and that might purchase a whole lot of peanut butter or rice and beans or tuna,” mentioned Edwards Avenue Fellowship Middle govt director Ann McCullen mentioned.
McCullen mentioned Mississippi state Consultant Missy McGee (R-District 102) needed to assist make a change by proposing Home Invoice 248.
“I used to be actually joyful to introduce laws that simply took the phrase ‘non-perishable’ out of this code,” mentioned McGee. “Now, the regulation would learn, if handed, meals(s) bought by a delegated meals pantry within the state of Mississippi are tax exempt.”
McCullen mentioned Mississippi has been acknowledged as probably the most food-insecure states in america.
She mentioned she believes lots of of feeding companies throughout the state would profit from tax exemptions.
“Whether or not you’re a meals pantry or soup kitchen or a meals financial institution, if it can save you that little bit of cash, you’re going to make use of it to purchase extra meals, and it’s simply going to make Mississippi more healthy,” mentioned McCullen.
McGee mentioned she thought the passing of this invoice was obligatory for meals banks to offer one of the best assets for Mississippians.
“We actually need to encourage our meals pantries to offer probably the most wholesome, nutritious meals that they will, and people sometimes are perishable meals,” mentioned McGee. “And so, you recognize, it is probably not an enormous sum of money, however each penny counts, and it actually stretches that greenback in order that they will purchase extra meals and serve extra households in want.”
Home Invoice 248 handed by way of the state Home of Representatives and is now within the Senate Finance Committee.
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