Vehicle service shop supply tax
Asked by GuruDNZ6VT Jul 29, 2025 at 05:37 PM about the 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited AWD with EyeSight Package
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I was charged a $58.49 shop supply tax for a fuel and air induction system
cleaning service at my subaru dealership in Washington State. Is this normal?
2 Answers
Well that's a dealership for you, it probably showed that charge in the fine print when you signed the repair order. Your vehicle is a 2018 so most likely there is no more warranty so you can have it serviced by an independent shop. But aware that if you use top tier fuels you don't need fuel system services. If you don't run top tier fuel then put in bottle of Techron at every fill up. Or switch to Chevron or Texaco fuel. That stuff works.
I don't know about the laws in your State, but where I am, the end user (you) are charged tax on shop supplies. This includes chemicals, hardware such as nuts, bolts, screws, etc., and any other supplies that are used during a repair. Essentially you're buying these things as part of the repair or service. When the shop buys these things they don't pay tax because they're not the end user. If the shop buys, for example, something to clean their bathroom, they're charged tax because they're using it for the shop, not for a customer repair. Jim