I just came back from a store in Moss Bluff. I purchased two items that cost $19.98. Their tax on $19.98 was $2.15, which brought my total to $22.13.

How is a business outside the city limits of Lake Charles able to charge the 10.5 percent that’s supposed to be charged in the city of Lake Charles?

The sales tax rate described by the reader — $2.15 assessed on a $19.98 purchase — amounts to 10.75 percent, not 10.5 percent.

And 10.75 percent is the combined regular local and state tax rate in all Calcasieu Parish municipalities, along with the unincorporated areas and the Moss Bluff-Gillis area.

The state rate amounts to 5 percent, 1 percent of which will expire at the end of next June. The state sales tax doesn’t apply to food or prescription drugs.

Food and prescription drugs are subject to a 5.75 percent local sales tax in all parish municipalities. But outside the cities and towns they’re subject to only 4.75 percent — thanks to an exemption from a 1 percent Police Jury assessment.

Proceeds from the local taxes go to the School Board, the Police Jury, the Sheriff’s Office and municipal governments.

Who benefits from the local sales tax in Moss Bluff, Topsy and Gillis, according to a School Board sales tax department chart:

• Calcasieu Parish School Board — 1.5 percent.
• Calcasieu Parish Police Jury — 1 percent.
• Calcasieu Parish School Board —  1.5 percent.
• Law Enforcement District — 0.25 percent.
• Calcasieu Parish School Board — (for salaries) — 0.5 percent.
• Law Enforcement District — 0.5 percent.
• Calcasieu Parish School Board — (for salaries) — 0.5 percent.
• Who benefits from the local sales tax rate in Lake Charles:
• Calcasieu Parish School Board — 1.5 percent.
• City of Lake Charles — 2 percent.
• Law Enforcement District — 0.25 percent.
• Lake Charles employees — 0.25 percent.
• Calcasieu Parish School Board — (for salaries) — 0.5 percent.
• Law Enforcement District — 0.5 percent.
• Calcasieu Parish School Board — (for salaries) — 0.5 percent.
• City of Lake Charles — 0.25 percent.

For more information, call the School Board’s sales tax department at 217-4280.

For more, visit www.calcasieusalestax.org.

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The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.