Published: July 03, 2008 11:03 pm         

Some shoppers at Beckley Wal-Mart may be due refund

Customers who purchased certain food items at the Beckley Wal-Mart store Tuesday morning may be owed a slight refund, according to a spokesperson for the retail giant.

Due to a computer error, some shoppers may have had a 4 percent sales tax levied against their food purchases, rather than the reduced 3 percent rate that took effect July 1 for food that meets specified criteria, said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Ashley Hardie.

The problem apparently only affected the Beckley Wal-Mart store and was corrected before the morning was over.

Anyone who shopped at the store and kept their receipt from Tuesday morning has two options for retrieving the 1 percent refund: bring your proof of purchase to the store and receive a rebate for the surcharge or, according to state Tax Department Director of Communications Kimberly Osborne, a consumer can alternatively seek any such refund from the Tax Department.

As for any stores that have failed to comply with the new rate, she urges compliance post-haste.

“Get it corrected immediately,” Osborne advised. She said that stores should remit revenues to the state at the 4 percent tax level until their computers or cash registers are recalibrated. Retailers or grocers who intentionally fail to comply face penalties and interest charges, Osborne noted.

Those who wish to deal directly with the state Tax Department can either call the agency’s toll-free number at 1-800-982-8297 or visit the Taxpayer Assistance office in Beckley at 407 Neville St., Suite 109. The phone number for that office is 256-6764.

The required form for requesting a refund — known as Form 240 — may also be obtained online at www.state.wv.us/ taxrev. Go to the “Forms” page, find the “business taxes” option, and search for “consumer sales tax,” explained Osborne.

Gov. Joe Manchin and the state Legislature gradually lowered the sales and use tax on food from 6 percent in 2005 to 3 percent Tuesday.

The 3 percent tax rate applies to the sale, purchase and use of food and food ingredients intended for human consumption. Prepared food — including food sold in a heated state — along with food sold through vending machines and soft drinks do not qualify for this reduced rate and will continue to be taxed at the 6 percent rate.

— E-mail:

mhill@register-herald.com