Sales Tax on Cycling Shoes

[erik822]

I was at a store recently and was charged sales tax for cycling shoes. I was under the impression that shoes are a non-taxable item. If I buy vans made for BMX riding, there's no sales tax. Why is there sales tax on bike shoes with cleats?

[OCary]

From: http://www.taxes.state.mn.us/taxes/sales/publications/fact_sheets_by_name/content/BAT_1100085.pdf

Sports or recreational equipment
Sports or recreational equipment means items designed for human use and worn in conjunction with an athletic or recreational activity that are not suitable for general
use. Sports and recreational equipment is taxable.

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Oddly, bowling shoes fall under "general purpose" but it seems that biking shoes wouldn't. And even more oddly, I've been wearing my Dominators all day at the office due to forgetting I had taken my cubicle shoes home on Friday; walking to lunch today was not the best.

[BG128]

+1 last friday I wore my bike shoes at work all day because I forgot my work boots at home.

[smklugherz]

I have had this discussion before with baseball spikes. Apparently, the spikes turn them from clothing to sporting equipment. Which seems to make sense. I am guessing the same holds true for the cleat on a cycling shoe.

[manual63]

Shoes with cleats = mountain bike or road bike shoes.

Shoes for BMX and skateboarding = casual shoes.

I told you BMXers and Skaters are smart.....:)

[Guest1]

Mountain shoes didn't have tax the other day, road ones did though.

Thank Jesse for that little tax.

[ppgc]

I've been wearing my Dominators all day at the office due to forgetting I had taken my cubicle shoes home on Friday; walking to lunch today was not the best.

Try walking around all day in a pair of Genius 5's. I almost fell down 5 times that day.