Sales Tax in the United States
The U.S. tax system can seem complex at first, but understanding Sales Tax is essential for any company selling products or services in this market. This document will guide you step by step through the basics: what Sales Tax is, how to obtain your certificate, what obligations you will have, and which tools can help you comply efficiently.
What is Sales Tax?
Sales Tax is a consumption tax applied to the sale of goods and services to the final consumer in the United States. Unlike other taxes, it is not calculated on company profits but directly on the sale price of each transaction.
- It is set as a percentage of the purchase value, varying by state or locality.
- The seller is responsible for calculating, collecting, and remitting the tax to the authorities.
- Registration provides the Resale Tax Certificate, allowing businesses to purchase products for resale without paying tax upfront, since the tax will be charged to the final consumer.
In summary, Sales Tax ensures that the tax is collected at the point of consumption and that businesses act as intermediaries for the state.
Certificate Registration
You can register for free with the Department of Revenue (DOR) of the state where your company is located.
Alternatively, you may use our service to issue:
- The Sales Tax Certificate (for sales).
- The Resale Certificate (for tax-free purchases of products intended for resale).
Our service fee is USD $250.
How to Hire (EN)
To hire our service and obtain your certificate:
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Go to app.globalfy.com.
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Click on My Services → Hire New Services → Sales Tax Registration and Resale Certificate.
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Fill out the form with your company details.
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Make the payment of the USD $250 service fee.
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Our team will contact you within 4 business days with the service details.
Processing Time
Once our specialists receive all the documentation, they will review it and begin the process. We will provide you with a precise timeframe as soon as we have the necessary information.
- Certificates are usually issued within 15 business days.
- Processing times may vary depending on the state.
Company Obligations
Once the permit is issued, your company must:
- Calculate, report, and remit the tax collected to the state.
- File reports monthly or quarterly, even if there were no sales subject to tax.
For customers who have our Scale plan, there are no additional fees to perform the reports for your company for the first state in which you have obligations.
👉 To have the monthly Sales Tax tracking service, you must hire our the Scale plan.
Recommended Tools
To fulfill these obligations efficiently:
- Sales and inventory management software: Shopify or Xero.
- Tax reporting software: TaxJar, which integrates with Amazon, eBay, and Shopify.
- Automates calculations and submissions.
- Cost: $19 per month.
Reporting Dates
If your permit is of a general nature, quarterly reports must be submitted on:
- April 19
- July 19
- October 19
- January 19