Whether you have a catering event or you are just hosting a party, it is important to prepare the right amount of food for your guests. You should also ensure that the food is prepared in the correct temperature ranges and that your hands are sanitized.
Service charges on food catering are subject to sales tax
Restaurants and caterers are not taxed on the services they provide for events. However, they are required to collect sales tax on the food and drinks they sell. They are also required to register with the state Department of Revenue (DOR) and send a tax payment to the DOR on a regular basis.
If the catering or restaurant meals are taxable, the tax is based on the total amount of the sales price. The total amount includes the cost of the property sold, the labor or service cost, any other expenses, and the interest charges.
However, certain items are subject to special treatment in some states. Examples are floral arrangements, the decoration of entertainment sites, and professional event planning fees.
Sales tax is also applied to light refreshments served in restaurants and cafeterias. The operator of the room must separately state the charge for these services. Likewise, bottled water with carbonation is taxable.
A resale certificate is issued to the restaurant meal delivery company by the DOR. In addition, the restaurant meal delivery company is also required to provide a sales tax resale certificate to the restaurant.
Preparing the right amount of food for an event
Organizing an event with a lot of attendees is no small task. A good party plan involves a bit of thought and planning, but most importantly, food and beverage must be provided to everyone’s palates. Fortunately, there are several strategies that can help you organize your food, while making your guests happy and satisfied.
A great party plan begins with a list of the participants and the types of people you plan to entertain. You can also use this list to determine what foods will be served. If you’re serving a buffet style meal, make sure you plan ahead. This means ensuring you have enough room for everyone’s food and beverages, as well as enough room for leftovers and a few trashcans to boot.
If you’re not the cooking type, a good event planning service can help you organize your feast. If you’re hosting an office holiday party, a food and drink themed cocktail reception or any other social occasion, you’ll need to find a good fit.
Ensure food products are in the correct temperature ranges
It is vital to keep food products in the right temperature ranges when catering. A warm environment is perfect for bacteria to multiply. However, it is also an ideal environment for your food to spoil. You can minimize this risk by keeping your frozen goods at the proper temperature. Also, using insulated containers can help maintain the proper temperature.
One of the most important things to remember is that the best temperature to keep your food items is below freezing. Frozen foods should be kept at a temperature of about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This prevents the growth of harmful bacteria and helps to preserve the integrity of your food.
In order to ensure that your food is properly maintained at all times, you will want to have a good quality temperature monitoring system. While you don’t need to install a complex machine, you can get an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of your foods. Using this device will allow you to track the temperature of your food in real time.
Hand washing station requirements
Occupational safety and health law requires that hand washing facilities are available on commercial property. These facilities must be accessible at all times. They must be in areas that are used for food preparation or service, and have signs posted in all languages.
Hand washing stations need to be equipped with an appropriate supply of water and soap. Paper towels and a garbage receptacle must also be available.
To avoid spreading bacterial infections, all handwashing facilities and equipment must be clean and free of any accumulated grime. It is also essential that they be protected from pests.
Proper ventilation is also required. Ventilation must be provided through mechanical or natural vents. This will help to prevent the spread of airborne contaminants, and make sure that the air does not become saturated with pathogens.
In addition to providing a source of water, the handwashing area must have adequate lighting. This is particularly important when food is prepared.
If paper towels are used, a receptacle must be adjacent to the handwash sink. The towel dispenser must be placed so that the employee does not have to open cabinets to get towels.