subject: What is sales tax? [print this page] What is sales tax? What is sales tax?
Sales tax is imposed on all retail sales, leases and rentals of most goods, as well as taxable services. In other words a sales tax is a tax on the end-purchase of a good, so it normally does not apply if a sale is for re-sale or for subsequent processing. Sales tax normally a certain percentage that is added onto the price of a good or service that is purchased.
Your sales tax responsibilities as a new business owner, whether you start a business or buy an existing business, will vary depending on the type of organization or entity you operate. Besides state level, estimation of sales tax is also done on municipal or county levels. Payment of state sales tax depends on your sales and your state's regulations.
Normally it is the consumers who are burdened with sales tax. The re-sellers on the other hand, are exempted from sales tax, provided they do not use the goods on which sales tax is levied.
What is sales tax id number?
Sales tax id number or sales tax exemption certificate is a legal document issued by the state. This certificate of authority gives your business the authority to collect the required sales and use taxes, and to issue appropriate sales tax exemption documents, including resale certificates used for purchasing inventory.
Other names;
Sales tax id number also known as
Reseller permit
Sales tax vendor id number
Sales tax registration
Reseller tax id
Sales tax permit
Reseller certificate and
Sales tax exemption certificate.
When should I get sales tax registration?
If your business is required to be registered as a sales tax vendor, you must obtain a sales tax permit (also known as sales tax vendor id number, reseller tax id) from the Tax Department. If you make taxable sales before you receive the sales tax exemption certificate, your business may be subject to substantial penalties.
Why should I get sales tax vendor ID number? (Reseller tax id)
You will need to collect Sales Tax if you are selling a product or offering a service that is taxable. The process of getting a Sales Tax ID is called obtaining a sales tax exemption certificate.
Your state tax id number authorizes you to collect sales tax on your taxable sales. Once you receive your state tax id number, you are considered to be in business even if you never make a sale or never open the doors of your establishment. It is therefore important that you file your sales tax returns on time, even if you did not have any taxable sales during the reporting period, to avoid being subject to penalties for not filing
