because it is included in their ridiculous prices, lol

Similar to when you buy a drink in a club, the tax is included in the price of the drink whioch is also why many clubs get closed down for not paying taxes (they did not segregate the sals tax from overall sales).

doesn't everyone charge sales tax? i'm having a hard time thinking of something I'm not taxed for!

Sales taxes are a state by state thing. Some states have no sales tax at all, some have taxes on different types of products, some have the tax already added to the item's listed price. Very confusing if you travel alot.

It depends upon the state. In most they do, and on both "here" and "to go" items. They include the tax within the price of the item in most areas. It's a good question, and the easy answer is that they tax because they must, but Coffee Bean in California, say, doesn't tax their "to-go" items, because they don't have to, and that's what makes it all confusing. Here's why they tax. Nowadays in most states, like California, all hot and prepared food is taxable if 80% of the merchant's sales are food and beverages and 80% can be possibly consumed on site, with tables, chairs, whatever. Some other states that tax "to-go" items have different formulas, but the idea is the same. But in states like California there is an exception for to-go hot food, bakery products and some cold foods that Coffee Bean takes advantage of. If the merchant petitions the Board of Equalization taxing authority, they don't have to charge sales tax on these items as long as they keep records and charge separately for the items. That's why at Coffee Bean they always ask you at the counter "for here or to-go?" Starbucks does not exempt any items from required sales tax and they don't have to if they don't want to-- they also include the tax within the price of the coffee or beverage.

They do here.

it's already covered in the price, in addition to the coffee we pay for the cups, covers, tips....

its already in their prices