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There’s no proprietor’s handbook whenever you begin your individual enterprise. That is very true on the subject of coping with U.S. gross sales tax. Every state’s gross sales tax legal guidelines, guidelines, and laws are completely different. On high of that, every particular person enterprise’s gross sales tax legal responsibility varies. As a result of gross sales tax is so mysterious, many rumors and myths swirl round this ubiquitous enterprise activity. Right now, we’ll bust the commonest gross sales tax myths!
Fantasy #1: I pay gross sales tax to the IRS
Many new enterprise house owners are confused in regards to the distinction between earnings tax and gross sales tax. You pay earnings tax on the earnings your online business makes. The IRS is liable for administering federal earnings tax. (And in case your state has earnings tax, your state’s taxing authority is liable for administering state earnings tax.)
However gross sales tax is a state-level tax solely. Forty-five states and Washington D.C. all have a gross sales tax. Gross sales tax is run by every state’s taxing authority (normally known as the “[state] division of income”).
One other distinction between earnings tax and gross sales tax is that retailers accumulate gross sales tax from clients and go the gross sales tax on to the state. Gross sales tax is a pass-through tax and also you, the retailer, ought to by no means pay gross sales tax out of pocket.
Fantasy #2: I don’t have to gather gross sales tax if I solely promote on the web
Many on-line sellers, particularly new sellers who solely promote from dwelling, are beneath the misperception that they don’t want to gather gross sales tax since they personal a small, home-based enterprise. Sadly, this can be a fantasy. In case you are promoting taxable merchandise in your online business, then you might be required to register for a gross sales tax allow along with your state and accumulate gross sales tax.
Fantasy #3: Each enterprise has to gather gross sales tax from clients
Gross sales tax is a tax on the sale of taxable merchandise. In most states, tangible objects (jewellery, espresso mugs, furnishings, and so on.) are taxable whereas providers (landscaping, piano classes, accounting, and so on.) usually are not taxable.
To make issues extra sophisticated, some states now take into account some providers to be taxable. In case you’re uncertain whether or not you might be required to gather gross sales tax on the services or products you promote, examine along with your state’s division of income.
Fantasy #4: I don’t have to gather gross sales tax after I promote a product if I paid gross sales tax when shopping for that product
Many on-line sellers get their begin doing “retail arbitrage.” Lengthy story quick, which means shopping for merchandise at a low worth and reselling them at a better worth. Since you might be shopping for these merchandise from retailers who’re required to cost gross sales tax, you most likely pay gross sales tax when making the acquisition.
However the factor to recollect is that gross sales tax is charged on the transaction, not the merchandise. So even in case you paid gross sales tax whenever you purchased an merchandise, you might be nonetheless required to cost gross sales tax to your purchaser whenever you resell it. (So long as you promote it to a buyer in a state the place you might have gross sales tax nexus, however that’s a subject for a complete different put up.)
Thankfully, there’s a solution to forestall paying gross sales tax on and merchandise after which having to show round and cost gross sales tax to your patrons. You should use a “resale certificates” when making a purchase order. While you use a legitimate resale certificates at a retailer who will settle for it, you aren’t required to pay gross sales tax on objects you propose to resale. You will discover extra information about resale certificates right here.
Fantasy #5: I ALWAYS solely have to gather gross sales tax in my dwelling state
As a product vendor, you solely have to gather gross sales tax in states the place you might have gross sales tax nexus. Many new companies solely have gross sales tax nexus of their dwelling state. However enterprise create gross sales tax nexus in some ways, together with:
- Having an worker or contractor in a state
- Having a location or stock in a state
- Having an affiliate in a state
- Having a drop transport relationship with a vendor in a state
- Making momentary gross sales in a state
As your online business grows and modifications, chances are you’ll set up gross sales tax nexus in a brand new state. While you set up nexus in a brand new state, you might be required to register for a gross sales tax allow and accumulate gross sales tax from patrons in that state.
Fantasy #6: If I didn’t accumulate any gross sales tax, I don’t need to file a gross sales tax return
While you register for a gross sales tax allow, your state will assign you a submitting frequency and gross sales tax due dates. You’ll typically be required to file a gross sales tax return both month-to-month, quarterly or yearly. That is true even in case you didn’t make a single sale or accumulate a penny of gross sales tax over the taxable interval.
If in case you have a gross sales tax return due, file that return even when all you inform the state is “I collected $0.00.” Failing to file considered one of these “zero returns” may end up in every part from a financial penalty to having your gross sales tax allow revoked. Don’t neglect to file your return by the due date!
I hope this put up has busted some frequent gross sales tax myths. For extra about gross sales tax, try our Gross sales Tax 101 for On-line Sellers Information.
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