HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – Food pantries in Mississippi are exempt from sales tax on non-perishable foods, but when it comes to perishable foods, it’s a different story.
Feeding programs said the sales tax on perishables can add up to thousands of dollars per year.
“By the standards of what we pay in a year for food, it’s not a huge amount, but it is several thousands and that could buy a lot of peanut butter or rice and beans or tuna,” said Edwards Street Fellowship Center executive director Ann McCullen said.
McCullen said Mississippi state Representative Missy McGee (R-District 102) wanted to help make a change by proposing House Bill 248.
“I was really happy to introduce legislation that just took the word ‘non-perishable’ out of this code,” said McGee. “Now, the law would read, if passed, food(s) purchased by a designated food pantry in the state of Mississippi are tax exempt.”
McCullen said Mississippi has been recognized as one of the most food-insecure states in the United States.
She said she believes hundreds of feeding agencies across the state would benefit from tax exemptions.
“Whether you are a food pantry or soup kitchen or a food bank, if you can save that little bit of money, you’re going to use it to buy more food, and it’s just going to make Mississippi healthier,” said McCullen.
McGee said she thought the passing of this bill was necessary for food banks to provide the best resources for Mississippians.
“We certainly want to encourage our food pantries to provide the most healthy, nutritious foods that they can, and those typically are perishable foods,” said McGee. “And so, you know, it may not be a huge amount of money, but every penny counts, and it certainly stretches that dollar so that they can buy more food and serve more families in need.”
House Bill 248 passed through the state House of Representatives and is now in the Senate Finance Committee.
Want more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Copyright 2025 WDAM. All rights reserved.
发表回复