WROC Rochester First
CPA Tom Walpole discussed the basics of taxes and why we pay them Monday on News 8 at Sunrise. Walpole said taxes are a special kind of fee or charge the government requires people to pay in order live and work in their state and country. Sales tax for example are a percentage of the total price when you buy things like mobile phones, sneakers or a new toy. New York's sales tax rate is currently 4 percent. Depending upon the local municipality, the total tax rate can be as high as 8.875 percent.