Did you know that the City of Norman's day-to-day operations, like all other cities and towns in Oklahoma, are primarily funded by revenue from sales tax? That's because Oklahoma is the only state in the nation where cities depend almost entirely on sales tax for general operations.
This is why it is so important to shop in Norman. When you shop in other metro area cities, you are investing in their police and fire services, helping to repair their city streets, and maintaining their city parks. We wanted to share this important information because many residents don't realize that shopping in other cities improves the quality of life in those cities, rather than here in Norman.
What Can You Do?
- Shop locally. Here's a printable flyer with great reasons to shop here and support our local merchants.
- Shop with online retailers that collect and remit sales tax. If they don't charge sales tax, you report your use tax on your state income tax forms.
- When you make a purchase outside the City of Norman, sales tax is paid on the point of delivery. That means if you purchase something (furniture or appliances, for example) and have it delivered to you in the Norman city limits, sales tax should be collected and remitted to Norman. (Check to verify that it is.)
How is sales tax in Norman distributed?
The City of Norman's primary source of income is sales tax. The sales tax rate in Norman is 8.75%, and it is divided to be spent on these categories:
4.5% goes to the State of Oklahoma
0.125% goes to the Cleveland County Jail
2.3% goes to the City of Norman General Fund
0.7% goes to City of Norman Capital Improvements
0.5% goes to City of Norman Public Safety
0.5% goes to Norman Forward projects
0.125% goes to City of Norman Public Transit