Foreign Exchange

In short, don’t depend on exchanging foreign currency or traveler’s checks in Montana. While banks in the larger cities supposedly offer exchange services, the transaction is so out of the ordinary that you may be told to come back another day after they figure out how to do it. Save yourself time and hassle and change your money before getting to Montana. Or just use ATMs to draw money out of your foreign account.

Sales Tax

There is no sales tax or value-added tax (VAT) in Montana. It is one of three American states that do not levy a tax on products at the register (the others are Oregon and New Hampshire). Taxes on property and income, however, are steep.

The frequently dire financial condition of the Montana state government makes the sales tax a tempting revenue enhancer to some politicians, landowners, and advocates of public education. However, voters have repeatedly turned down the sales tax by referendum.

© W.C. McRae & Judy Jewell from Moon Montana, 7th Edition