It is simply a lucrative way of filling the government coffers.
In many states (and maybe all) sales tax is only charged if there is a sale -- the exchange of something for something. A gift is not a sale, so no sales tax is required.
is it required that I pay Minnesota sales tax on a car purchased from my mother
Depends where you are.
Depends state-to-state, on whether or not they enact a sales tax. They are required to collect sales tax by law.
Depends on the state. Some states charge sales tax on services, and some do not.
Every state has some sort of state tax required, whether it is a sales tax, an income tax, a property tax, an excise tax, a corporate tax, or some other kind of tax.
Yes.
No. It is not required in Illinois.
Yes, in Georgia, sales tax applies to the sale of used furniture. If a seller is operating as a business and selling used furniture, they are generally required to charge sales tax. However, private sales between individuals typically do not involve sales tax. Always check with the Georgia Department of Revenue or a tax professional for specific situations.
Not only legal, but generally required. The "end user" of an item is the one who pays the sales tax. If the same item is sold multiple times to multiple end users, each will pay sales tax. For example, if I buy things at a thrift store, I pay sales tax. Ditto for a used car.
sales tax sales tax!
Yes, Walmart.com typically charges sales tax on purchases, as required by law in most states.