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Beware of Target.com

Target.com is charging sales tax on items that are non-taxable. This can mean being overcharged as much as 11.5% on your purchases.

And it may be that there is nothing you can do about it!

I am a 90-year-old widow living on my dwindling retirement savings. I needed a new walker to get around the house. I ordered the walker I needed on target.com at a price I could afford.

When they sent the sales confirmation, I noticed they charged New York State sales tax on my purchase. I emailed target.com to advise them of the mistake, as Durable Medical Equipment is not taxable in New York. Durable medical equipment (walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, etc.) is not taxed most places in the US and Canada.

I got no email response, so I called. The call lasted 52 minutes of arguing with the Offshore customer service people, who claimed no knowledge of nontaxable medical items. The result was that unless I had a Proof of exempt status for the state where the order is being shipped (copy of state resale certificate, exemption certificate, etc.), I couldn't get a refund of the taxes. Well, of course I don't have a tax exemption certificate and I don't need one because it's not a taxable item.

They advised me that I had to pay for the order, including the taxes that I should not have been charged for, and submit the information by FAX, and it might take 4-6 WEEKS to get my refund, after it was reviewed by the Target tax department.

They wouldn't cancel my order, so I just refused the carton when the UPS man came to deliver it.

I started thinking how many people wouldn't even think to question sales tax, and I decided to let you know how Target.com is treating the uninformed public. Target is collecting as much as 11.5% hoping you don't find out or don't have a fax machine.

Then, I googled target and tax and discovered that I'm not the only one. There's a class action suit in one state that Martha Pile and others filed against Target for collecting tax on shipping.

And, in California, Loeffler and others sued Target in superior court alleging that Target had illegally collected sales tax. A trial court responded that customers don't have a right to sue retailers in matters relating to sales tax. The case was dismissed and plaintiffs have appealed.

I didn't get to be 90 letting people take advantage of me. Take my advice and beware of Target.com.

Dorothy
Greenfield Center, New York
U.S.A.