Happy Trivia Day! 5 Bizarre Tax Facts You Probably Don’t Know About

You may know about deductions for education, work expenses and children. But there are a whole slew of little-known tax facts that will probably surprise you! In honor of Trivia Day, we’re sharing 5 of our favorite little-known tax facts.

1. Blueberry Tax

Blueberries offer more than just antioxidants! Because the production of wild blueberries is so important to its agricultural economy, the state of Maine imposes a special tax on blueberries. This tax helps avoid over-harvesting, so you can keep enjoying your favorite muffins and scones worry-free for years to come.

2. Candy Tax

Whether or not your favorite confection is taxed depends on whether it contains flour and how it is defined. In most states the definition of candy is pretty similar. Candy is the preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts, or other ingredients or flavorings and formed into bars, drops, and pieces and is taxed. But did you know sweets made with flour are tax-free? Time to wean yourself off of that Jolly Rancher addiction and stick to Kit Kats!

3. Playing Card Tax

Be prepared to ante up if you’re buying a deck of cards in Alabama! The state is the only one in the U.S. to charge an additional 10-cent tax on decks of playing cards.

4. Food Packaging Tax

Colorado recently implemented a “nonessential food items and packaging tax,” meaning that items like to-go cups are exempt, but lids and napkins are taxed. Make sure you don’t spill that hot cup of coffee!

5. Bagel Tax

There’s nothing like a classic New York bagel, but be careful where you buy it. In the state of New York, once your bagel is sliced, it’s considered prepared food (even if you skip the smear) and is subject to sales tax.

How many of these bizarre tax facts did you already know about? Share your favorites in the comments below.