The Department of Revenue reminds restaurants, bars and taverns that they no longer should be collecting a half-percent King County food and beverage sales tax.

The tax was imposed in 1996 to pay for the construction of Safeco Field and ended Oct. 1, 2011, after the county notified the state that the bonds were paid off.

Despite Department efforts to notify affected businesses, the agency continues to receive reports about businesses that are still collecting it.

“It concerns us that some businesses are still collecting this tax nearly six months after it ended,” Department Director Brad Flaherty said.

King County restaurant, bars and taverns should collect the state and local sales tax rate percent of 8.6 percent to 9.5 percent on their sales, depending on their location, not 9.1 percent to 10 percent.

The state has been contacting businesses that are erroneously collecting the tax to provide them with correct reporting instructions.  It also is working with industry associations to help get the word out to any businesses that have yet to update their cash registers.

Businesses that have inadvertently charged the food and beverage tax should refund it to customers upon request.