TOPEKA (KSNT) – Local shoppers want a ‘Walmart wake-up call’ after discovering they were overcharged at checkout.
Shoppers at multiple Walmart stores in Topeka have reported additional charges on their receipts. Doing the numbers, Walmart shoppers seem to have a double problem.
“We were taxed twice,” said North Topeka Walmart shopper Sheryl Wilmington.
Cheryl and her husband, Jim, were doing their usual shopping at Walmart on Sunday.
“What? He was surprised,” Cheryl said. “There weren’t that many.”
Kansas’ food tax was scheduled to be reduced on January 1, 2023, following passage of a bill to reduce it from 6.5% to 4% in 2022. However, instead of one tax statement printed on the receipt, shoppers now see two different taxes.
The first is non-food and the second is food subject to national and local taxes. Cheryl said this format was not what was on her receipt.
“We were taxed in full,” Cheryl said. “Foods and non-foods he was taxed at 9.15 percent, and food he was taxed an additional 6.65 percent.”
The same thing happened to Robert Robbins at the Walmart on California Street.He wanted to know what was going on with the other shoppers.
“Get 27 news,” Robbins said. “There are a lot of people wondering what’s going on, so maybe they can get to the bottom of the matter.”
27 News has reached out to Walmart for comment on what is happening. At this time, emails and phone calls have not been answered as the company’s headquarters has not yet issued a statement on the situation.
Across the town of West Topeka, Apple Markets have been preparing for tax changes for over a week.
Terry Fleer of Seabrook Apple Market said: “It’s already in the system and we ran some tests and everything looked good.”
They shopped at two locations, but Robert and Cheryl said they might change where they shop in the future.
“If I don’t solve the problem and address it, I become a Dillons customer,” says Robbins.
Cheryl came to the same conclusion.
“They’ll fix it or goodbye,” Cheryl said.
Customers report that Walmart refunds the extra charges, so it’s important to keep your receipts.
