The reason why prices are almost always listed as taxless is complicated. Sales tax in the US is weird, and varies a lot by product and jurisdiction. We have no

The reason why prices are almost always listed as taxless is complicated. Sales tax in the US is weird, and varies a lot by product and jurisdiction. We have no national sales tax, but each state can levy a sales tax, also each county and each city can tack on their own tax to that. In New York City for example, there is a additional small sales tax that is a fraction of a percent that goes to the MTA. Each percent of the sales price can go to 2-3 or more different places. As a result a product can be taxed differently down the street. Each item is taxed differently, food isn't usually taxed, unless it is restaurant food. Clothes are in some places are aren't in some places. Sometimes clothes are only taxed if they cost more than a certain amount. Tax laws can change at any time, so it is easier to program a register than to reprice the entire store if tax laws change. Our sales tax went up recently.