Please note: This blog was originally published in 2021. It’s since been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Before you collect sales tax, you must register for a sales tax permit with the state.
Each state’s taxing authority — usually called the [State] Department of Revenue/Taxation — handles sales tax registration. You can register for a sales tax permit yourself, or hire a tax professional to register for your state sales tax permits for you.
When filing online, you will sometimes receive your sales tax permit number instantly, though with some states it will take up to 10 business days. If you register on paper, it may take two to four weeks to receive your sales tax permit.
When to register for a sales tax permit
In the US, business must register for a sales tax permit when they have met nexus thresholds in a state. These thresholds vary by state, so sellers should be aware of the sales tax laws in the states where they make sales to stay compliant. In general, having a physical presence in a state will create nexus.
When to register for a sales tax license:
- When your business is based in a state
- When your business has physical presence in a state
- When your business has met economic nexus thresholds in a state
- When you sell on a marketplace and have nexus in a state that does not have a marketplace facilitator law
Read more about when to register for a sales tax permit here.
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In general, these are the steps to register with a state to collect sales tax:
- Gather vital info like your EIN and other business identifying information
- Visit your State’s Department of Revenue website
- Search or click on the “Sales and Use Tax” section of the website
- Click the link to register your business
Every state and every website is slightly different, so we’ve listed every state below with a step-by-step guide. Find the state in the list below in which you need to register for a sales tax permit and click on it for more info.
We’ll provide directions on registering for a sales tax permit in each state on your own. If you’d like to streamline your compliance, TaxJar can handle the registration process for you. Visit our registration page to request our team of experts manage your sales tax registration on your behalf.
If you’re tired of handling sales tax collection, reporting and filing on your own, give TaxJar a try.
(Don’t see your state at all? Then you’re in luck and live in a state with no state sales tax!)
How TaxJar can streamline your registration process
TaxJar can handle the registration process for you. Visit our registration page to request our team of experts manage your sales tax registration on your behalf.
