I had an interesting thing happen the other day and I was wondering if someone knows about this. My wife and I ate lunch last week at PF Changs and after we ate I noticed that we were charged with two kinds of tax. The regular sales tax was included and then a second tax for the tea that we drank called "non-alcoholic beverage tax" and it was about $.50.

I was wondering if this was something new so when we went out eat at lunch the last two times I looked for this tax and it wasn't there. Anyone know what is going on?

I got this from the Comptroller's web site (edit not sure why it would tax tea though):
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Mixed Beverage Sales Tax

Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, a mixed beverage sales tax is imposed on each mixed beverage (distilled spirits, beer, ale and wine) sold, prepared or served.

> > look here> > > > Mixed beverage sales tax is also due on each nonalcoholic beverage and on ice sold, prepared or served to be mixed with an alcoholic beverage and consumed on the premises of the mixed beverage permittee.

The mixed beverage sales tax is in addition to mixed beverage gross receipts tax imposed on the mixed beverage permittee.

Unlike mixed beverage gross receipts tax, you can pass the mixed beverage sales tax on to your customer. You can do this by:
•Adding a line item for the mixed beverage sales tax on the bill you provide to your customer; or
•Including mixed beverage sales tax in the sales price. If you do this, you must provide written notice that the sales price of alcohol includes mixed beverage sales tax.

It came from here: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/mixbev/mb_sales.html


[This message has been edited by ItsA&InotA&M (edited 1/15/2014 2:48p).]

quote:

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Mixed beverage sales tax is also due on each nonalcoholic beverage and on ice sold, prepared or served to be mixed with an alcoholic beverage and consumed on the premises of the mixed beverage permittee.

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This is very interesting. It appears from this that it was an appropriate charge if we had had an alcoholic beverage ordered. But everyone at the table (three of us)had ice tea. We eat out at lunch almost everyday and no others have made that charged with ice tea. (incuding Kokos's, Olive Garden, and Longhorn Steakhouse).

I know some of the owners/general managers of some of these places and I think I'll ask.