Kansas grocery shoppers can expect $150 million dollars in tax relief in 2024

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) – Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday that grocery shoppers can expect $150 million in tax relief in 2024. 

“This will be significant savings that will be experienced by many many Kansans,” said Russell Arben Fox, political analyst. 

Starting January 1, Kansans will begin feeling some relief going to the grocery store. 

“What governor Kelly is announcing today is a yet further reduction in the food tax,” explained Fox. 

In 2023, state sales tax rates on groceries went from 6.5% down to 4%, and according to the governor’s office that saved Kansans more than 180 million dollars. 

Kansas is the outlier in terms of food tax. 

“Most states across the United States don’t have any sales tax on food items,” said Fox. 

But Kansas is slowly catching up, with grocery taxes reaching a new low of 2% for grocery shoppers here. 

“You’re going to see your trip to the grocery store average out, you know, 10 dollars less, 12 dollars less than it was in the past. But you know that sort of thing month after month can really add up,” said Fox. 

The people who may feel this relief the most? Those on a fixed or low income. 

There are also other potential impacts from this coming in the new year. 

“By getting rid of this food tax, even if they’re not getting rid of it all at once, even if they’re doing it step by step, they’re pushing the government to have to think in more creative ways about how to sustain the services that the people of Kansas require,” said Fox. 

Governor Laura Kelly said this reduction is a step toward eliminating the state sales tax on groceries completely, which will happen in 2025.

“The state sales tax reduction applies to food, food ingredients, and certain prepared foods. When looking at a receipt, shoppers will see two tax rates, one for qualifying purchases and one for all other items,” the Governor’s office explained.