About the Van Buren A & P Tax

The Advertising & Promotion tax (referred to as the ‘hospitality’ tax), was established by a vote of the people in October, 1989 and levied:

3 percent (3%) tax on the portion of the gross receipts or gross proceeds received from the renting, leasing or otherwise furnishing of hotel, motel, or short-term condominium rental accommodations for sleeping, meeting, or party room facilities, bed and breakfast accommodations and RV parks for profit in the City of Van Buren, Arkansas, but such accommodations shall not include the rental or lease of such accommodations for periods of thirty (30) days or more.

1 percent (1%) tax on prepared food and non-alcoholic beverage sold by restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, delis, drive-in restaurants, carry-out restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores delis, and all other establishments in Van Buren engaged in the selling of prepared food and non-alcoholic beverages for on- or off-premises consumption.

Prepared food is food items that are altered by quantity or content: any food item that is cooked on the premises by the establishment for sale to a customer: a fountain drink would be subject to the tax, whereby a can of soft drink would not; meat or cheese sliced by the establishment for customer sale would be taxed, whereas, prepackaged meat or cheese sold to customer as purchased by the establishment from a vendor would not be taxed; a pre-packaged bag of nacho chips/potato chips would not be taxed, however, an on-premises prepared serving of nachos (cheese and nacho chips) would be, etc.

Although this is a city tax, state laws govern the makeup of the Commission and set forth guidelines for any expenditure of the funds collected. Payment of the tax is made directly to our office, and any expenditures must be approved by the Commissioners.

The Prepared Food and Lodging tax forms below can be printed, completed and mailed for payment with check.  For online payment see the options listed below.  Please note there is a 4% charge for using the Credit Card payment option.  There is no additional charge for the Bank Draft payment option.