Tax added to Café Cash purchases, not meal plan swipes

By Monica Kreber

kreberm@thejohnsonian.com

Students who make purchases with Café Cash now have to pay 9 percent sales tax. Photo by Claire Van Ostenbridge • Special to The Johnsonian.Something that makes café cash appealing to students is the absence of sales tax when purchases are made during meals.

Students have noticed this fall that tax has been added to food purchases. 

Pam Yurkovic, director of dining services, released a statement made by ARAMARK on the new sales tax. ARAMARK provides food services to Winthrop and other institutions such as school districts and businesses.

“Based upon ARAMARK’s understanding of the applicability of South Carolina’s sales tax to its operations, Dining Services is now charging 9 percent total sales tax on declining balance sales at retail locations. This sales tax only applies to sales (Café Cash) at retail locations and does not impact dining hall meal plans (swipes or purchases).

The sales tax, which goes directly to the State of South Carolina and York County, is collected at the point of sale in the same manner as a cash or credit card transaction.”

Junior athletic training major Kevin Reynolds said he doesn’t think the sales tax is good for students’ budgets.

“If they’re taxing café cash then they should increase the amount of café cash given to students,” he said. “Everything is already more expensive than what it would be at Wal Mart, and you’re paying to get the money on your meal plan.”

Junior nutrition major Buddy Snelling said the price of purchases in the food court should be reduced.

“I don’t think it would be good to add tax to something that is already expensive,” he said. “I would like to learn more about adding sales tax and find out if they have a legit reason to do so.”

Unlike past years, Cafe Cash is now taxed for meal purchases, which does not include card swipes for meal plans. Photo by Kathleen Brown • brownk@thejohnsonian.com