Missouri · MO · Money & taxes
Missouri: Are groceries taxed?
Taxed at a lower rate
Missouri taxes food at a 1.225% state rate, compared with its 4.225% general state rate.
Missouri's state sales tax is 4.225%, and the state rate on food is 3 points lower, at 1.225%. The lower rate covers food that can be bought with food stamps (SNAP). Local sales taxes still apply to food at their full rates, so total tax on groceries varies by location.
What the law says
Notwithstanding other provisions of law to the contrary, beginning October 1, 1997, the tax levied and imposed under this chapter on all retail sales of food shall be at the rate of one percent.
Sources
- RSMo § 144.014 Official · revisor.mo.gov
- Missouri DOR: Sales Tax Reduction on Food Official · dor.mo.gov
- Missouri DOR: Sales/Use Tax Official · dor.mo.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Missouri Department of Revenue
- Phone
- 573-751-2836
- Website
- dor.mo.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arkansas Groceries exemptArkansas ended its state sales tax on groceries on January 1, 2026, but city and county sales taxes still apply.
- Illinois Groceries exemptIllinois ended its 1% state sales tax on groceries on January 1, 2026, though many cities and counties may add 1%.
- Iowa Groceries exemptIowa exempts most food and food ingredients from its state sales tax.
- Kansas Groceries exemptKansas's state sales tax rate on food and food ingredients has been 0% since January 1, 2025.
- Kentucky Groceries exemptKentucky exempts food and food ingredients for home consumption from its 6% sales tax.
- Nebraska Groceries exemptNebraska exempts food and food ingredients from its 5.5% state sales tax, except prepared food and vending machine food.
- Oklahoma Groceries exemptOklahoma ended its 4.5% state sales tax on groceries on August 29, 2024, though local sales taxes still apply.
- Tennessee Taxed at a lower rateTennessee taxes groceries at a reduced 4% state rate, compared with its 7% general state sales tax rate.