Is there sales tax on groceries in Mississippi?
Quick answer
Yes. Mississippi taxes groceries at the full 7% state rate plus any local rate.
Mississippi taxes groceries at the full state rate, one of the few states to do so without a reduced rate.
Rule summary
How Mississippi treats each category.
| Grocery food (home consumption) | Taxable at the full rate |
|---|---|
| Prepared and restaurant food | Taxable at the full combined rate (8%) |
| Candy and soft drinks | Usually taxable even where groceries are exempt |
| Prescription medicine | Exempt |
Source: Mississippi Department of Revenue · rates as published for 2026
This page summarizes the general rule. Every state writes exceptions for specific products, and local jurisdictions can differ from the state treatment. Confirm your situation with the Mississippi Department of Revenue or a tax professional before relying on it for filing.
Combined rates in Mississippi
What a taxable purchase actually costs in Mississippi.
Frequently asked
Answers pulled from the same rule set.
- Is there sales tax on groceries in Mississippi?
- Yes. Mississippi taxes groceries at the full 7% state rate plus any local rate.
- Is prepared food taxed differently than groceries in Mississippi?
- Yes. Mississippi treats hot, ready-to-eat and restaurant food as a taxable retail sale even where unprepared grocery food is exempt or reduced.
- Are prescription drugs taxable in Mississippi?
- No. Prescription medicine is exempt from sales tax in Mississippi.
More Mississippi guides
Other Mississippi rules that change the total.