Tax exemption revoked for religious publications
Pittsburgh PA Tribune-Review 13Oct99 D1
By Marc Lukasiak: Tribune-Review

Until Tuesday, merchants in Pennsylvania didn't have to charge sales tax on religious items that they sold. But the U.S. Supreme Court refused on Tuesday to hear arguments on an appeal from the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court, which ruled that sales of religious items are taxable. The refusal to hear the appeal will likely lead to challenges to sales tax laws in other states that exempt materials from sales tax on religious grounds.

For LDS Church members and retailers of LDS products, this decision may eventually mean that they will have to pay or charge sales tax on LDS products, if they do not already have to do so. There are currently no LDS product retailers in Pennsylvania, so the immediate effect on LDS businesses is minimal.