Iowa Slaps on Pumpkin Tax, Eyes Trick-or-Treaters' Untaxed Bounty

You weren't going to eat those, were you?

The Iowa Department of Revenue is taxing jack-o'-lanterns this Halloween. The new department policy was implemented after officials decided that pumpkins are used primarily for Halloween decorations, not food, and should be taxed, said Renee Mulvey, the department's spokeswoman.

"We made the change because we wanted the sales tax law to match what we thought the predominant use was," Mulvey said. "We thought the predominant use was for decorations or jack-o'-lanterns."

Previously, pumpkins had been considered an edible squash and exempted from the tax. The department ruled this year that pumpkins are taxable — with some exceptions — if they are advertised for use as jack-'o-lanterns or decorations.

Iowans planning to eat pumpkins can still get a tax exemption if they fill out a form.

I think they're misguided. I've carved one pumpkin in about the last ten years. But I eat as much of the delicious gourd as I possibly can while it's still in season. In fact, I say fall hasn't officially arrived until Dunkin' Donuts unveils its exquisite, limited-time-only "pumpkin spice" variety of fried doughy goodness.