Sales Tax

A one and three-eighths percent tax levied on retail sales in the City of St. Louis. Sales tax is not levied on certain items, including motor fuels, prescription drugs, food purchased with food stamps, all sales by or to not for profit organizations and residential utility charges.

Discussion

The chart above shows the collections history of the city's 1.375% local sales tax. Authorization for the 0.375% portion of the tax expired in 1990. This portion of the was approved by voters in 1993 and is fully reflected in the FY95 revenues. Revenue from sales tax in FY99 is forecast to increase by slightly less than 2% over revised FY98 estimates.