When you buy goods in the city of Myrtle Beach, you're charged an extra one cent on the dollar sales tax. The measure passed in 2009 and is often called the "tourism tax" since most of the money it generates goes to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce for out-of-market tourism promotion.
The tax is intended for items bought in the city limits, but many others, like William Best, have a Myrtle Beach address, but aren't within the city limits. Best says when he makes a purchase online, retailers have charged him the wrong tax amount.
When the additional sales tax intially went into effect, he decided to limit his purchases in Myrtle Beach.
Around Christmas time last year, Best picked up a gift for his wife online. After doing the math, he realized he was charged the extra sales tax.
"I immediately got on the phone to QVC to challenge it and talking to their rep they told me I was not the first one to have called," says Best.
The issue was resolved pretty quickly.
"About a week later, I got an email showing that they were refunding me 15 cents, and I know that's not worth their time, but it's just the principle that I don't want the city of Myrtle Beach to get money that they're not entitled to."
While his refunds haven't been large, Best says it adds up over time and he wants others to be aware.
"Those of us who stay outside of the city limits of Myrtle Beach and place orders on the computer, if you don't check behind that, you will be charged 9% and of course that 1 percent goes to the city of Myrtle Beach, and that's not fair."
Best says he's been to websites that ask if you live in the city limits or not before they assess the tax amount.
He's usually been able to get refunds when charged the wrong amount, but says one company refused.
The last estimate we have of the additional sales tax money was $14 million. That was from August 2009 to July 2010.
Related stories:
Tourists mixed on new Myrtle Beach sales taxGov. Haley takes on penny sales tax at Horry County meeting
