Wal-Mart Sales Tax Class Action Settlement

A settlement has been reached in the Wal-Mart sales tax class action lawsuit and you may be eligible for compensation in the form of a settlement credit.

This Wal-Mart class action settlement resolves claims that the national American retailer stiffed American consumers during return transactions by not providing them a full refund, including the paid full sales tax at the time of sale.

Under the terms of the Wal-Mart class action settlement, the retailer has agreed to pay $5 million to establish a sales tax settlement fund and provide eligible Class Members with $3 to $15 Wal-Mart gift cards, which will vary depending on the number of claims filed.

Wal-Mart denies all wrongdoing and liability in this Wal-Mart sales tax class action lawsuit, but has agreed to settle in order to avoid the uncertainty of continued litigation.

Back in May 2014, Plaintiffs Shaun Brandewie and John Newbrough, Ohio residents, filed this Wal-Mart class action settlement alleging the popular retailer did not refund customers the full price of their purchases when the Wal-Mart products were bought in one state’s county, but returned in another.

In January, Wal-Mart denied Brandewie and Newbrough’s allegations against the company and filed a motion to dismiss the sales tax class action lawsuit, claiming the sales tax refund claims were out of the court’s jurisdiction and that the complaint should be handled by the Ohio Tax Commissioner.

However, Judge James Gwin disagreed and the Wal-Mart sales tax class action lawsuit was allowed to move forward. Eventually, the plaintiffs and Wal-Mart reached a sales tax class action settlement, and plaintiffs pushed for preliminary approval of the agreement despite some obstacles.

The Wal-Mart sales tax class action settlement was preliminarily approved on July 16, 2015.

UPDATE: On July 11, 2016, the settlement website has been updated, and claims are expected to be paid in the summer of 2016.  Keep checking back and let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our  Facebook page.

UPDATE 2: On April 12, 2018, Top Class Actions readers reported that they have received $15 electronic Walmart gift cards from a class action settlement over allegations that the retailer failed to provide consumers a full refund that included sales tax when they returned merchandise.

Who’s Eligible

“[A]ny individual person who purchased, or was given as a gift a product purchased from a Wal-Mart store or Sam’s Club within the United States, or on line from Walmart.com or Samsclub.com for delivery within the United States, returned the product, and the amount of sales tax refunded or credited was less than initially paid between May 2, 2010 and July 16, 2015 is considered a Settlement Class Member.”

If you are still unsure whether or not qualify for a portion of the settlement, then you should contact the Wal-Mart sales tax settlement administrator using the contact information provided on this page or on the settlement website.

Potential Award

$3 credit, in the form of a gift card redeemable at Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Club stores, walmart.com or samsclub.com.

However, if the number of claims submitted does not exhaust the Wal-Mart sales tax class action settlement fund, then each Class Member’s credit in this settlement may be increased and will max out at $15.

Proof of Purchase

Submit a completed Claim Form by Dec. 18, 2015, in order to receive your portion of this Wal-Mart class action settlement.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

Claim Form Deadline

12/18/2015

Case Name

Shaun Brandewie, et al. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Case Number 1:14-CV-00965, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Final Hearing

12/17/2015

Settlement Website

www.WalmartSalesTaxSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Brandewie v. Wal-Mart Stores Claims Administrator
c/o Class Action Administration, Inc.
PO Box 6878
Broomfield, CO 80021
1-844-239-6705

Class Counsel

SPANGENBERG SHIBLEY & LIBER LLP

Defense Counsel

GREENBERG TRAURIG LLP
NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US LLP