Repost from BHB: major vent... need your opinion

My catering hall is charging me sales tax on my catering bill AND the 18% 'service charge'.

I went to many catering facilities when looking for my hall and heard that it was illegal to charge sales tax on gratuities.

Therefore, when I meet with the catering managers (different from the original person I was dealing with, because he was no where in sight), I had a major argument with them over this.

I think they hide this practice by calling the 18% gratuity a 'service charge' instead and that's how they get away with this.

Please let me know if you've experienced this, and whether or not I'm right with this matter.

Thanks

Re: Repost from BHB: major vent... need your opinion

You hit it right on the head, when they call it a service charge then they add the tax to it. I went to some halls that did this and some that didn't. I went with one that didn't. I don't think there will be anything you can do about it, but I would be angry as well.

Re: Repost from BHB: major vent... need your opinion

the catering hall business is as dirty as selling used cars! it's sickening

Re: Repost from BHB: major vent... need your opinion

Some parts of the whole wedding industry are slimy.

Re: Repost from BHB: major vent... need your opinion

That is very slimy of them!!! We did not pay tax on gratuity - keep your ground and fight the issue

Re: Repost from BHB: major vent... need your opinion

Unfortunately, they can charge tax as long as it is called a 'service charge' and not a 'gratutity'...sickening, isn't?