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Proposed sales tax on snacks fizzles in Maryland

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April 7, 2020

A proposal to raise the 6% state sales tax in Maryland that would have targeted certain snacks has been defeated in the state's general assembly, according to the National Automatic Merchandising Association.

According to a fiscal estimate, the proposal would have resulted in more than $20 million in taxes raised across all sales channels, NAMA said in a press release. Currently, no food products are subject to sales tax in the state. 

"There was no action taken before the general assembly adjourned the 2020 legislative session March 18," Steve Boucher, president of the Maryland-DC Vending Association, said in the press release. Boucher and Wes Fisher, NAMA government affairs manager, spoke in opposition to the bill in February before the House Ways and Means Committee, along with nearly 10 other bill opponents.

"This tax would have arbitrarily targeted certain snacks, which would have been an administrative nightmare and disproportionately impacted the convenience services industry," Fisher said. "This is a great outcome for NAMA members in Maryland."