Massachusetts State Representative Kay Khan proposed Bill H.2575 that would apply the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax to candy and soda, reports Mass Live. Under the current law, candy and soda are considered food and therefore exempt from the state’s sales tax.
Khan testified before the Revenue Committee in July in favor of the legislation that would generate an estimated $52 million, the source reports.
The National Confectioners Association (NCA)’s vice president of public affairs and communications, Christopher Gindlesperger, told ConfectioneryNews, “This tax proposal is discriminatory and regressive. There is no reason to single out candy over any other food. Many confectionery products share a nutritional profile similar to other food items that are not subject to the proposed sales tax expansion including cookies, cakes, pies, ice cream and other snack items.
A similar bill was introduced in 2012, but was dismissed.
