Target shoppers outraged after extra $10 ‘spirits fee’ turns up on receipt – but chain insists surcharge is above board

TARGET shoppers have raged about an additional fee added to receipts for a specific item.

An image showed the retailer charging a “Spirits Fee” to someone and it stirred up debate but the chain said the issue was a state one.

This photo showed how one shopper was charged an extra $10.71.

The customer had purchased $17.99 worth of White Claw hard seltzers.

This fee is a tax imposed in the State of Washington.

Although White Claws have around 5% alcohol, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board explained why the spirits fee still applied in this case, according to CBS affiliate KIRO-TV.

“That particular White Claw product is considered a distilled spirt so it’s subject to two wholesale excise taxes, the 17% ‘Spirits Fee’ a retail sales tax and Target’s markup,” the board said.

“Our auditors have actually reviewed Target receipts such as this.

“Where it says ‘Spirits Fee’ it really contains another excise tax (collected by Dept. of Revenue), the 17% (collected by LCB) and the markup.”

These officials suggested this fee could have been given a different name on the slip.

“A more accurate reading would have said “Spirits Tax, excise and sales tax, and Markup,” the board added.

A Target spokesperson confirmed to KIRO-TV that this fee was legitimate and that it was a state tax.

The representative added that the chain would look into the issue.

Several shoppers shared their anger and experiences with this tax, in the comments of a Facebook post.

“I had the same thing happen. I was shocked,” one person said.

One person shared that they also witnessed this at another retailer.

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In April, Target launched its first-ever paid membership program, Target Circle 360.

For $99 a year, members get access to the following perks:

• Unlimited, free same-day delivery on orders over $35
• An extra 30 days to return your items
• Free two-day shipping on 100,000s of items
• 5% off in-store and online
• Automatic deals and exclusive partner perks

“Yep, I was going to try a vodka soda that was on clearance for $8 at Safeway...rang up with plus nearly $13 in taxes,” this person said.

“Honestly my bad for not realizing it was considered a hard liquor...I thought it was more like white claw surge.”

TARGET WOES

This receipt issue has not been the only one that Target shoppers have raged about.

Many customers have shared their frustration with the chain over its receipt-checking measures.

This is when a employee stands between the store's self-checkouts and the exit to check peoples' proof of purchase.

Some Target customers have complained about the wait times caused by this measure and some people have shared their extreme responses to this, The U.S. Sun has previously reported.

"@Target just asked me to show my receipt after I shopped. Never coming back," one post on X said.

"Even worse, I spent way too much in there," the post continued, "bad business."