Legislature considers tax break for Girl Scout cookies

More money from the sale of Thin Mints and Tagalongs by Girl Scouts in Idaho would go back to troops under a tax break proposal making its way through the House.

The House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted Monday to introduce legislation to end the 6 percent state sales tax charged on Girl Scout cookies.

That tax — now at 22 cents per box — generates about $140,000 annually.

If the tax-break is approved, Girl Scout lobbyist Julie Hart said troops in central and southern Idaho would keep cookie prices at $3.75 per box. She said the scouts would use the extra money to support scholarships to help low-income girls take part in the organization.

She said 48 other states already exempt the annual cookie sales from the state sales tax.