I'm always getting e-mails and phone calls from consumers with questions. Here are four of them and the answers.

I went to a McDonald's and the receipt listed a "take-out tax." Is there such a tax in Washington state? Is it really cheaper
to eat inside the restaurant?

No. There is no such think as a take-out tax. So what's going on here?

We all pay sales tax on prepared food - restaurant food - whether we eat in or take out. McDonald's lists that sales tax on the receipt as a take-out tax or an eat-in tax based on how you place your order.

They do this to track their take-out business. It would be nice if McDonald's could think of a better way to do this because it confuses a lot of people.

But the bottom line is you pay the same sales tax whether you eat in or take out.

My dry cleaner doesn't post prices. Are they required to do this?

No. There are no regulations that I'm aware of that would require dry cleaners to post a price list. So it's up to you to ask.

By the way, few businesses are actually required to post prices. According to folks at the City of Seattle's Weights and Measures Division, that list would include gas stations, parking lots, supermarkets for most items and taxi cabs.

Again, if you don't see a price, ask.

Can you recycle empty prescription vials? Do they have a recycling symbol on them?

No, not at this time and here's why. If you look on the bottom, you'll usually see the number 5. That means it's a type of plastic that's hard to recycle, which is why it's unfit for curbside recycling.

Some pharmacy companies are working to come up with more recycle-friendly vials. But until then, unless you can find another use for them - maybe storing screws or thumb tacks - you need to throw these empty vials in the trash.

Is the census bureau really sending out an American Community Survey or is this bogus? We got a letter that says if we don't fill it out, we could be penalized for not cooperating.

It's legit. And by law, you are supposed to respond.

The census bureau uses the American Community Survey to gather information on a regular basis, from about three million households each year. The program was authorized by Congress a few years ago.

Because of this the 10-year census, which takes place in 2010, will be very short, a true head count as required by the constitution.