Sales tax figures mixed for December receipts

Inflationary pressures had mixed results on consumer spending in Comanche County during early fall, according to figures released this month by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

The December 2022 distribution of sales tax collections by the commission primarily represents local tax receipts from September business. 

Sales tax receipts for December showed some municipalities were up for the reporting time period and others were down in the amount of money received this month, according to the tax commission.

Elgin received $148,897 in sales tax receipts this month compared to $164,019 for the same time period a year ago.
Fletcher and Sterling also had lower tax receipts for December. Elgin and Fletcher have 4% tax rates while Sterling has a 3% rate.

Medicine Park showed a slight increase of about $600 for December 2022 compared to December 2021.

Lawton’s numbers dropped by about $86,000 this December compared to the same time period last year.

At the same time, use taxes were up in most communities. Elgin showed an increase of $7,468 in its use tax receipts for December, which helped to partially offset its drop in sales tax. Fletcher’s use tax receipts were up about $500, and Sterling’s stayed steady. Meanwhile, Medicine Park’s use tax was down by about $1,000 and Lawton’s use tax increased by about $67,000.

Use taxes are paid on items purchased online, shipped into Oklahoma and the consumer was not charged a tax on the transaction by the company. Individuals in Oklahoma are responsible for paying use taxes on their out-of-state purchases. Use tax is calculated at the same rate as sales tax, which varies by city and county.

Statewide figures

Companies that remit more than $2,500 monthly in sales tax receipts are required to file and pay electronically. The monies they reported this period represent sales from October 16-31 and estimated sales from November 1-15.

The disbursement of $197,459,402 in sales tax collections returned to the cities and towns reflected an increase of $16,092,428 from the $181,366,974 distributed to the cities and towns in December last year. The use tax disbursement to cities and towns was $33,388,537.

In county returns, the counties shared in a $33,884,159 sales tax disbursement and a $6,205,846 use tax disbursement.