New York Bagel Falls Under Tax Wrath

by Jessie Cacciola, Posted Aug 24th 2010 @ 4:00PM

sliced bagel with lox in new york Photo: gtrwndr87, Flickr

New Yorkers, beware. The latest victim in the state's string of foodstuffs to come under tax (soda, pizza, junk food) is perhaps the most irksome and perhaps the most innocent: the city's iconic, beloved bagel.

It seems that if you simply order your bagel unadulterated (not sliced, not toasted, not schmeared with anything) and scram, you're in the clear. But if you order yours sliced open or topped -- with cream cheese, lox, you name it -- or eat it inside the establishment, a tax, dear New Yorkers, may soon ensue.

While the State of New York has yet to formally announce this new tax in code, an old stand-by bagel franchise, Bruegger's, has already been tapped, The Wall Street Journal reports. The company faced the surprise during an audit this summer when owner Kenneth Greene was charged with a lump sum for past bagels and was ordered to implement the tax immediately, adding about eight cents to each sliced/toasted/topped order.

Other breads are unaffected. Official code is said to be released soon but, for now, look out for a courtesy sign -- Bruegger's put one up stating that they "apologize for this change and share in your frustration." Or ask before you order.

While we're not advocating carrying your own knives, taking a plastic one to go or waiting till you get to the office kitchen might save some pennies. Just don't haggle with your bagel guy -- we promise he's not charging you for the extra labor of cutting bread and layering lox.

Filed Under: News
Tags: bagels, food tax, FoodTax, new york, New York bagels, NewYork, NewYorkBagels, taxes