If you’re a merchant who sells within the United States, sales tax due dates can be an unwelcome wake up call after an otherwise profitable year, especially if you’re new to the world of US sales tax.
Between the different sales tax rules for each state, the introduction of new tax laws for out-of-state ecommerce sellers and marketplaces, and the penalties of overcharging or failing to remit sales tax, there’s no denying the sales tax compliance process has become more complicated over time.
陆ckily, it’s easy to know where and when you may need to collect sales tax, and to collect accurately with product- and location-specific rates, withShopify Tax.
What is sales tax?
Sales tax is a consumption tax paid to the government on the sales of goods and services. It’s typically paid by the end customer of a product at the point of sale, collected by the seller, and remitted to the government on a regular basis, depending on the seller’s volume, products, and state requirements.
Learn the nexus conditions for each state
Shopify has a helpful sales tax reference page for learning the sales tax rates, collection rules, and nexus conditions for each state.
See nexus conditionsSales tax is collected, at the state level, in 45 states and the District of Columbia, and at a local level for some towns and municipalities. Currently, only five states don’t collect sales tax at the state level: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon.
The good news is you’re only required to collect sales tax if you meet the criteria for establishing a significant business presence in the state or “sales tax nexus.”
Here’s what you need to be sales tax compliant
1. Determine where you have nexus
Nexus is established when you meet the requirements for a business presence in a state. Prior to 2018, this referred to a physical presence, such as having a warehouse.
But with the precedent set inSouth Dakota v. Wayfair, where the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state’s entitlement to sales tax from the out-of-state seller, many states have updated their definition of nexus to include remote sellers with no physical presence.
As a result, nexus can now exist based on either a physical or an economic presence in a state. Now, all sellers who have generated enough sales to qualify must pay state sales tax (if it applies).
Aphysical nexus, depending on the state, can be anything from:
- An office
- An employee resigning in or traveling to the state
- A warehouse
- A distribution center
- A third-party affiliate
- Stored inventory
- Temporary physical business in a state, such as at a trade show or craft fair
Aneconomic nexus, on the other hand, is usually triggered when you reach a certain threshold of sales within the state. For example, the state ofIllinoisconsiders $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions in a 12-month period as the threshold for economic nexus.Texas, on the other hand, deems you have an economic presence if sales made into the state exceed $500,000 in the past 12 months.
If you suspect you might have a physical or economic presence in a state, you could check with that state’s taxing authority to determine whether or not you have a sales tax nexus.
Shopify Tax provides sales tax insights
Shopify merchants using Shopify Tax can easily check where they may have nexus by using the sales tax insights found inSettings > Taxes and duties > United States > Manage tax liability. You’ll also receive a notification when you may have reached nexus in a new state.
You should also be aware of tax sourcing rules for each state—that is, which state has the right to tax a transaction, especially for online businesses. It is always the destination state; however, within a given state, the appropriate rate may be sourced either based on the origin or destination of the shipment within that state:
- Origin-sourced salesare taxed according to where you, the seller, are located. Origin sourcing may apply when property is shipped wholly within a single state. For example, property withdrawn from a Texas warehouse and shipped to a Texas recipient may be taxed at the rate where the warehouse is located.
- Destination-sourced salesare taxed according to where the buyer takes possession of the item sold. For example, property shipped from outside of Texas into Texas may be taxed at the rate where the recipient of the goods is located.
陆ckily, most states use destination sourcing, but some states and districts use mixed sourcing.
The first step to sales tax compliance is always to determine where you have a sales tax nexus and to set up your online store (and any other channels you might sell on) to collect sales tax.
Once you’ve determined where you have nexus, your next step is to understand if your product is taxable.
Simplify sales tax obligations with Shopify Tax
Shopify Tax helps merchants navigate their US sales tax obligations with clear, easy-to-understand liability insights right in their Shopify admin.
Learn more2. Ensure your products are taxable
While most tangible personal property (i.e., products) is subject to sales tax, there are some that areexempt from sales taxor subject to a different rate.
根据国家不同,nontaxable属性可以clude some or most:
- Services, such as legal or home renovation services
- Digital products, such as music, video games, or software
- Food and groceries
- Prescription and non-prescription drugs
Services and digital products can be especially confusing, as the line between the two is often blurred. Many services today are delivered through digital products, such as graphic design, or software-as-a-service.
Revise, review, and approve your tax categories
Shopify Tax suggests categories for each of your products that you can review, revise, and approve. Accurate sales tax rates are then applied automatically when you add new items to your store, and those rates are always kept up to date.
Learn moreIf you sell a product you think might be nontaxable, check with state tax authorities or a tax professional to make sure.
3. Register for a sales tax permit
States where you have nexus require you to secure a sales tax permit before you begin collecting sales tax. To register for a sales tax permit, go to your state’s Department of Revenue website or give them a call.
States use sales tax funds to pay for things like schools, roads, and public safety, so they are very invested in any merchants with nexus in their state collecting and remitting sales tax.
Sales tax permits are free in most states, while others cost a small fee ranging from $10 to $100. Just Google “apply for sales tax permit” and the name of the state.
Once you’ve registered, your state will tell you when and how often they want you to file taxes. This is generally monthly, quarterly, or annually, with most annual due dates falling in January.
Don’t skip this step!States generally consider it unlawful to collect sales tax without a permit.
Florida sales tax permit application
Here’s a sample of Florida state sales tax permit application.
See permit application4. Set up sales tax collection
Once you’re registered in the states where you have nexus, it’s time to set up sales tax collection. If you use Shopify, you can get started by going toSettings > Taxes and duties > United States.
If you’re turning on tax collection for the first time you’ll need to choose your preferred tax service: Shopify Tax, Basic Tax or Manual Tax. When you choose Shopify Tax, you’ll automatically be collecting sales tax at checkout using hyper-accurate product- and location-specific rates. Merchants choosing Basic or Manual Tax will need to take some additional steps to configure their tax settings.
A complete overview of your options is available in theShopify Help Center.
>Once you’ve determined your preferred tax service, select the state where you’d like to activate tax collection and select startCollecting taxes > Collect sales tax. Tax is now activated for that state and will be automatically collected from buyers in that state.
Multichannel sellers must collect sales tax from buyers in states where they have sales tax nexus through every channel they sell on. Again, this is fairly easy if you only have sales tax nexus in one state. If you have a sales tax nexus in multiple states, check with every platform on which you sell to make sure you’re collecting sales tax from the correct buyers.
Some of the new state laws born fromSouth Dakota v. Wayfairtarget marketplaces specifically. If you’reselling on Amazon,eBay,Etsy, or another marketplace platform, these companies are now obligated to collect and remit sales tax on behalf of their sellers in states with thesemarketplace facilitator laws. Still, you should confirm the marketplace is collecting and remitting tax on your sales made through their platform.
5. Prepare your sales tax reports
As your sales tax filing date approaches, figure out how much sales tax you’ve collected from buyers in every state where you have nexus.
The level of reporting detail required varies from state to state. Certain states keep it simple—they just want to know how much sales tax you collected from all buyers in a state. But a majority of states are becoming increasingly complicated. Not only do they want to know the total amount of sales tax you collected from buyers in their state, they want you to break that amount down by county, city, or district. With the rooftop accuracy of Shopify Tax, you can be confident that you’re collecting taxes with the level of precision and detail required by each state.
If you have complex reporting requirements, such as selling through multiple channels or accepting payments across multiple platforms, there are various tools that can help.You can findaccounting softwareoptions orShopify Apps and integrationsthat will make this task easier.
Try Shopify Reports
With Shopify Reports, you can use the default Taxes report or create a custom report. Customize fields to add and organize details, such as date, region, tax rate, and amount. Export this data when you’re ready to file taxes or share with your trusted tax advisor.
Create report
6. File your sales tax return(s)
Now comes the part where you turn in the sales tax you’ve collected from buyers to the state or states where you have sales tax nexus.
Check with your individual state on when and how to file. Most states make it easy to file online. In fact, some states require you file online or pay a penalty.
Don’t think you’re off the hook if you didn’t collect any sales tax over this taxable period. Many states still require you file what is known as a “zero return,” even if you don’t have any sales tax funds to remit to them. A zero return is a sales tax return that tells the state you didn’t collect sales tax during that taxable period. They basically want you to check in and assure them you’re still in business. If you forget to file a zero return, you can receive a penalty just like if you forgot to file your taxes when you do have funds to remit.
Speaking of paying, it pays tofile your sales tax returnson time. Many states realize that sales tax is a burden and will award merchants asales tax discountfor paying early or on time. Don’t leave that money on the table.
Somark those sales tax due datesin your calendar.
Use smart due date notifications
So mark those sales tax due dates in your calendar. If you use Shopify Tax, you’ll receive smart notifications that inform you when and where you need to file your returns.
Get notificationsIs sales tax complicated?
Yes. Are you alone? No.
Once you’ve run through these steps, you should have a basic handle on how to charge sales tax. Still feel overwhelmed? That’s why many business owners consult a tax professional to ensure they’re compliant with sales tax laws.
Benefits of Shopify Tax
If your business is powered by Shopify, learn about the benefits of using Shopify Tax, built to help business owners manage their tax liability in the United States and provide guidance on how to register and remit sales taxes with the relevant authorities.
Charging sales tax FAQ
How do you know if you need to charge sales tax?
Check the conditions for establishing a physical or economic nexus in the states you’re selling in. If you meet the conditions, you should be charging your customers sales tax. Consult a tax professional if you’re unsure.
How do you calculate sales tax?
Sales tax is calculated by multiplying the price paid when selling an item against the tax rate (e.g., $20 x 7%). The exact rate varies by the state, local jurisdiction, product category, and other factors.
How are specific products taxed?
The majority of products are taxed at the default sales tax rate determined by state and local governments. However, certain products may be taxed at lower rates or exempt depending on local rules and regulations. If you use Shopify Tax and categorize your products, Shopify automatically applies product-specific rates on your behalf. If you use another tax service, you can manually exclude or override the default sales tax rate for specific products. If you manually adjust product-specific rates, it’s important to keep up with rules and rate changes, so your products are taxed accurately.
What is the difference between sales tax and VAT?
Sales tax and value-added tax (VAT) are both consumption taxes, but where sales tax is only applied at the final point of sale, VAT is applied at each stage of the supply chain process where the good is bought and sold. The US does not have a VAT.