system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How come in the United States stores post their prices before tax?

Would it be better to know the "actual"  price?
gpt
In the US, there isnt a general VAT, the taxes is different from state to state even city to city and as far down as different insitutions in those cities. It is easier for the retaliers to just put the price minus tax on the lables, as it would be the same nationwide, but the tax would then be applied at the cashier. 

Also there is an incentive to post prices without tax in the US because it "helps keep the prices low". compared to the retailers that do write the taxes on the price tag. If the retailers dont have to put the price + tax on the price tag, there isnt any reason for them to do it.