Memphis Tennessee Looks To Sales Tax

Jun 11, 2012 | Susan McLain

Memphis Looking To Increase Revenue Through Sales Tax Measure On November Ballot

November may see options like property tax increase or sales tax increase on the Memphis, Tennessee ballots. The Memphis City Council “…voted 7-5 in its executive session Tuesday to send a proposed ordinance increasing the sales tax rate by half a percentage point to the full council.”

The increase would raise the existing rate of 2.25 percent to 2.75 percent and would be expected to bring in $47 million annually to the city. The current combined rate is 9.25 percent.

The funds are intended for “planning for the future” according to council member Shea Flinn. Flinn indicates that, “If residents vote it down, the other options are increasing the property tax or making cuts.”

The Council feels the sales tax would enable residents to move some of the burden to “…people who do not live in Memphis but come to the city regularly for work, recreation or shopping.” If passed, the funds would not start rolling into Memphis until July 2013.

In a CommercialAppeal.com letter to the editor , one resident had this to say:

If the Memphis City Council wants to get the sales tax increase passed b y the citizens (June 6 article), it would be simple: Add the lower property tax proposal in with the sales tax increase and watch it pass like a dream. – Bill Harper, Cordova

Get Free Tax Rate Tables

Tennessee State Rates

Sales tax rates, rules, and regulations change frequently. Although we hope you'll find this information helpful, this blog is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal or tax advice.

Avalara Author

Susan McLain

Avalara Author Susan McLain

Susan McLain began her career as a technical writer in technology industries such as satellite networking and medical devices. Her skills encompass technical and marketing writing, usability engineering, verification and validation testing and protocol writing, requirements development, business analysis, technical illustration/graphic design and marketing. She has owned her own business providing service to small to medium sized business and in other positions, she has been in project management, documentation and marketing. She is currently the content specialist for Avalara helping to “make sales tax less taxing.”