County to begin 1 percent sales tax collection April 1

It’s not an April Fools prank. April 1 is the day Cook County begins collecting an additional 1 percent tax on retail sales within the county.

At Tuesday’s county board meeting Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers reviewed some of the details as outlined by the state’s department of revenue. All items currently taxable under the state sales tax rules are also taxable in Cook County with one exception. The county’s 1 percent sales and use tax does not apply to motor vehicle sales.

One point was clarified by Powers regarding out-of-county vendors collecting the 1 percent tax on items purchased by county buyers. Commissioners were concerned that taxes on purchases made out of Cook County but shipped into the county would be missed. Powers said the Department of Revenue’s website is listing the new Cook County tax, alerting vendors of the change.

Basically, said Powers, all retailers registered to collect Minnesota sales tax that do business in the county, must collect the extra 1 percent tax. If businesses fail to do so, there are penalties.