Will Missouri stores lose grocery shoppers to Kansas? [Video]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas is eliminating its sales tax on groceries.

Will Missouri shoppers take their business across the state line to save money?

The state’s tax on Kansas food sales was 2%.

In Missouri, the food sales tax is 1.225% on take-home grocery food items and the revenue it generates primarily supports public schools.

Local governments levy sales taxes on groceries, potentially increasing the total tax rate up to 8%.

The Missouri Department of Revenue has an online tool that shows the full tax breakdown.

A bill to end the grocery tax in Missouri stalled in the legislature last year, with lawmakers citing lost revenue and confusion on how money from the tax would be made up.

“Frankly, I’ve lived in a couple of states where they didn’t have sales tax on food and it always works out better,” said Marcus Moses, a shopper in south Kansas City. “Oh yeah, it’s going to affect how I shop. I’m going to spend a lot more time in Kansas buying food than in …