After the State of Arkansas eliminated grocery taxes just this year, Mississippi is one of only nine states still charging a grocery tax to its residents.
Before July of 2025, Mississippians were taxed seven percent of all grocery sales, but this was reduced to five percent last summer.
In short terms, if a Mississippian spends $100 on groceries, they would also fork out an extra five dollars to cover the tax cost.
The United States Department of Agriculture states that “households tend to spend a smaller share of their overall food budgets at grocery stores, supercenters, and other retail food venues when faced with a grocery tax.”
Meridian resident Lashondra Tucker explained that the addition of taxes makes grocery spending harder on underprivileged families.
“It does make me feel very bad, especially for the low-income families who are struggling to get groceries, and with prices steady going up and then jobs are not really paying what they’re supposed to be paying, it does make it difficult for individuals, especially in low-income families,” Tucker said.
Clifton Odom says he has started buying off brand items to try and save money while grocery shopping.
“You know where you would buy this particular brand, now if there’s a off brand and it’s the same thing, I try to do that it doesn’t add up to much, but makes me feel a little better anyway,” Odom said.
The Mississippi Department of Revenue told Twin States that there hasn’t been any update to whether the tax would be eliminated or froze since it was reduced just last year.
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