Goods that may be handled, held, or seen are considered tangible personal property for the purposes of the West Virginia sales tax. Clothing, furniture, appliances, and electronics are included in this category. However, several items—including groceries, prescription medications, and medical equipment—are free from sales tax. In addition, some services, such hotel rooms and cooked food offered in restaurants, are subject to sales tax.
Comparatively speaking to other states around the country, West Virginia is thought to have a reasonable tax burden. West Virginia is ranked 21st in the nation for having the highest state and local tax burden as a percentage of state income, according to the Tax Foundation. West Virginia has a 6.5% corporate income tax as well as a personal income tax rate that ranges from 3% to 6.5%.
Residents in Fairmont, West Virginia, pay a 6% sales tax, which is the same as the state average. However, due to the additional county tax, the overall sales tax rate may be higher when purchasing taxable items in different sections of Marion County.
Tennessee has the highest sales tax rate when compared to the other states in the union, at 9.53%. Louisiana has a sales tax of 9.52%, Arkansas has a sales tax of 9.47%, and Washington has a sales tax of 9.23%. However, states without a sales tax include New Hampshire, Oregon, Alaska, Delaware, Montana, and Delaware.
Finally, West Virginia allows counties to apply additional sales and use taxes on top of the state’s 6% sales tax. Tangible personal property is subject to sales tax, with occasional exceptions for particular goods and services. The sales tax rate in Fairmont is the same as the state rate, and West Virginia is regarded as having a reasonable tax burden. West Virginia’s sales tax rate is in the middle of the pack when compared to other states’ rates, with Tennessee having the highest sales tax at 9.53%.