is there tax when ordering something online

Yes, The Apple Store charges state sales tax for all 50 states. To get to Apple's refurbs, click on the red "SAVE" tag on the right side of the The Apple Store page.

http://store.apple.com/

-Bmer
Mac Owners Support Group
Join Us @ MacOSG.com
~ An Apple User Group ~

Only at the online Apple Store as far as I know. As for tax and discounts (re: your other post) if they have the configuration you want MacConnection does not charge tax and sometimes offers free shipping, memory upgrades, etc.; they sometimes have refurbed units in stock as well. It pays to do the math carefully, though the education discount (and free iPod?) at the Store are hard to beat.

Teresa,

I bought my g5 from MacMall and paid no tax, got free shipping and free software. If you order from Apple, you will pay tax in all states where they have a store, and you will likely pay shipping. If you order from a reseller, you will typically only pay tax in the states where they are headquartered. I don't know about getting a refurb.

Best,

Terry

Just a note, a company has to charge state tax if they maintain a physical presence in that state.

If you live in the same state as the offices of MacMall for instance you would have to pay tax.

Apple charges tax because they have presence in many states, now of course the big question is if they charge tax for states that they don't have a presence. :P

Yes, they do. There are no Apple Stores in Maine yet when I buy online the sails tax is charged. Kinda fishy.

If you order from Apple, you will pay tax in all states where they have a store, and you will likely pay shipping.

Very unlikely you will pay shipping; I NEVER have (with multiple Apple orders over the past 18 years). But you will pay tax.

Although I have not purchased anything from the online Apple Store, I have made purchases through the iTunes Music Store and have never been charged sales tax. Even though at the bottom of the Shopping Cart page it states:

"Total: $0.99 + applicable sales tax"

I live in California where there is sales tax, and Apple also has a few buildings and such.
Anyone know why no sales tax, I just thought it was Apple's way of thanking me.

Maybe iTMS is a separate corporate identity or there is no tax on downloads because it's not a physical object?, since you can't buy iTMS music at a Apple Store?

Mac Medic,

Apple does not charge sales tax in all 50 states.
For example, Oregon and New Hampshire do not have sales taxes. Therfore, Apple does not charge sales tax for items shipped to those states.

,dave

Tallan,

Apple charges sales tax in Maine because they have a "nexus" in Maine.
It does not have to a store.
It could be as simple as a sales rep's office.

,dave

P.S. The US Supreme Court case is here: QUILL CORPORATION, PETITIONER v. NORTH DAKOTA by and through its TAX COMMISSIONER, HEIDI HEITKAMP

Tallan:

It would be even "fishier" if you were in a State that had no sales tax! 🙂

Gary

"Apple does not charge sales tax in all 50 states. "

Sorry, I was told that by an Apple salesperson at the online store once when I called.

-Bmer
Mac Owners Support Group
Join Us @ MacOSG.com
~ An Apple User Group ~