Q: I have received several emails warning of a 3.8 percent sales tax to be imposed on all house sales in 2013. Evidently this tax is included somewhere in the health care legislation. Can you confirm this?
— Donald Pattillo, Marietta
A: There is a 3.8 percent tax to fund Medicare, but it applies only to rental income or sales of rental property, not a primary residence. The sellers subject to it will be individuals making more than $200,000 and married couples making more than $250,000, Christopher Rylands, an attorney with the Atlanta branch of Bryan Cave, told Q&A on the News in an email. But the "math for calculating the tax is quite complicated, so even for people who are subject to it, it may not be 3.8 percent of the total amount of rent or sale proceeds," he said.
Q: I get my hair cut at a chain salon and have noticed they do not sterilize or clean the combs and brushes. They just throw them in a drawer. Who do I contact about this?
— Bob Lowe, Fayetteville
A: The Georgia Board of Barbers rules state: "The use on any person of any article that is not properly cleansed and sterilized is prohibited. Each barbershop shall have one wet sterilizer per workstation and one dry sterilizer per workstation. Hands must be properly cleansed and sanitized prior to servicing each patron." Complaints can be made to the Georgia Board of Barbers, Georgia Professional Licensing Boards, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217-3858.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We'll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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