Colorado now taxing candy bars -- unless they contain flour

As of May 1, soda pop and candy -- "a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruit, nuts, or other ingredients or flavoring in the form of bars, drops or pieces," according to the Colorado Department of Revenue -- are no longer...

By Patricia Calhoun

May 3, 2010

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As of May 1, soda pop and candy -- "a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruit, nuts, or other ingredients or flavoring in the form of bars, drops or pieces," according to the Colorado Department of Revenue -- are no longer exempt from the 2.9 percent state sales tax.

Unless the candy contains flour, in which case the legislature doesn't consider it candy at all. Which means that if you want to save your pennies, you should switch your candy allegiances to Kit Kit (wheat flour is the second ingredient, right after sugar) or Twix, or Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme (although regular Hershey bars are not exempt) or Twizzlers (wheat flour is listed second, right after yummy corn syrup).

Like other grocery-store foods, these items will continue to be exempt from the sales tax. Why? Don't ask -- just eat.

Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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