Did you pay tax to your breeder when you bought your dog?

[Diane Winters]

I live in Massachusetts, and am purchasing a goldendoodle from a breeder in Illinois. He is charging me a tax for the sale of the dog, even though in MA there is no tax on a pet purchase. Does this sound right? Shouldn't the breeder have to pay for their own tax instead of passing it on to me?

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Yes, I paid Maryland sales tax when I purchased Finn.  It was required by law.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I live in Massachusetts, too, and I did not pay sales tax for my puppy.  The breeder is located in Kentucky, and I flew to the Cincinnati Airport, where I rendezvoused with the breeder and got the puppy.  I then flew back to Boston with the pup in the cabin with me.  I remember the breeder telling me that if I went to her home in Kentucky to get the puppy, I would have had to pay the tax.  No sales tax would have been charged had I opted to have her shipped to me.  I believe that you only have to pay sales tax if you physically get your puppy in a state that charges tax.