Fact check: US people still have to pay sales taxes on the graphics card. These vary by state and range from 0-9.55%.. That's not the end however. Additional municipal taxes may apply as well bringing the total closer to 5-18%. All taxes are not included in the MSRP and need to be figured out by the customer.

1. Summary of the results

The original statement is largely accurate in its description of U.S. sales tax variations. Multiple sources confirm that sales tax rates vary significantly by state ^[1], with rates ranging from 0% to over 9% at the state level ^[2]. The statement is also correct about additional municipal taxes being applied on top of state rates, which can result in higher total tax rates ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several crucial pieces of context:

• Tax Regulation Complexity: The tax system for computer hardware is more complex than just sales tax rates, with no two states having identical tax rules for hardware and software ^[3].
• Import Tariff Situation: While not directly related to sales tax, there was significant uncertainty around import tariffs that could have added 25% to graphics card prices ^[4]. However, these tariffs have been suspended until May 31, 2025, as part of efforts to diversify supply chains away from China ^[5].
• Regular Updates: Sales tax rates are not static - they are updated monthly and can change over time ^[2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the statement isn't necessarily misleading, it presents an incomplete picture:

• The statement focuses solely on the consumer burden of taxes without acknowledging potential tax exemptions that might exist for computer hardware in some jurisdictions ^[6].
• The emphasis on tax rates being "not included in MSRP" implies this is unusual or problematic, when in fact this is the standard practice across the United States for most retail items ^[1].
• The statement doesn't mention that these tax structures are part of a broader system where states have significant autonomy in setting their own tax policies ^[3], which explains the variations rather than them being arbitrary.