Summary: This blog will give you information about how to register for sales tax permits in every state on your own.  

It is vital that you register for a sales tax permit before collecting sales tax in a state. We know that applying for sales tax permits can sometimes be confusing and overwhelming.  That is exactly why we wrote this blog. In this blog, you will be able to access instructions about how to register for sales tax permits in every state as an out-of-state retailer on your own.  

If you decide this task is too much for you to handle, please check out our Done-for-You Sales Tax Service.  Also important, you should first really determine whether or not you actually need a sales tax permit in the state in which you are wanting to apply. Feel free to check out our other blogs about sales tax nexus to know more about that (just type “nexus” in the search bar at the top of the page). 

 

What You Need to Register for Sales Tax Permits

Before you get started, we suggest you gather a few essential documents.  You may not need these for every state, but they are commonly required. These include the following:  

  • Federal tax ID, typically called the EIN, issued by the IRS 
  • Knowledge of your business entity structure 
  • Business owner information
  • North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) number
  • Start date in the state where you will be permitted
  • Your estimated yearly/quarterly/monthly tax liability or gross sales
  • Your business address
  • The names, titles, home address, and Social Security numbers of the proprietor, partners, or principal officers (mandatory)
  • Any former entity Information
  • The addresses for all locations where you will collect sales tax 
  • Some states will also require copies of Articles of Organization/Incorporation, Certificate of Trade Name, driver’s licenses or passports.

 

International Companies Wanting to Register for Sales Tax Permits in the U.S.

There are different considerations for international businesses registering for sales tax permits in the United States. Essential to sales tax permit registration, international companies must have a Federal Tax ID (FEIN).  If you have a FEIN and are ready to register, you can move forward with gathering all of the information listed above. 

Most states will allow you to register for a sales tax permit without a social security number (SSN) or an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), but almost all of those applications will need to be paper applications.  However, we have discovered that one state, the state of Maryland, will not approve any sales tax permit application without a SSN or ITIN.  The only way to register with Maryland without a SSN or ITIN is to submit a notarized affidavit to the state that lists a responsible party who has a SSN or ITIN. While this person will be responsible for the business’s sales tax, they do not have to be an owner or officer of the company.

 
 
 
TaxValet - The Ultimate Sales Tax Checklist
 
 
 

State-by-State Permit Registration and Fee Information

Click on the link for each state to access detailed information on how to register for a sales tax permit in that state. 

State Fee
Alabama There is currently no charge to apply for an Alabama sales tax permit.

Arizona Registration fees currently range from $1 to $50 per region, depending on locations selected. 

Arkansas There is no fee when applying for the remote seller permit in Arkansas. There will be a $50 fee to apply for the in-state permit with the state of Arkansas.

California There is no fee to register for a Seller’s Permit with the state of California. 

Colorado Sales tax permits vary in cost from $4 to $16.  These charges are based on your first day of sales and whether you registered for the permit on an odd or even calendar year.  There is also a $50 deposit required at the time of submitting the permit application. This is refunded when the first $50 in tax liability is paid. 

Connecticut To apply for a Connecticut sales tax permit, there is a $100 fee. This fee must be paid from a checking or savings account. They do not accept credit cards for permit fees. 

District of Columbia There is no fee to register for this permit in Washington, D.C. 

Florida There is no fee to register for this permit with the state of Florida. 

Georgia There is no fee to register for this permit with the state of Georgia.

Hawaii When applying for the General Excise/Use Permit, the state charges a flat license fee of $20.00.

Idaho There is currently no fee to apply for an Idaho Sales and Use permit.  

Illinois There currently is no charge to apply for an Illinois sales tax permit.

Indiana There is a $25 registration fee to apply for a sales tax permit in Indiana.  If applying online, there is an additional $1 charge to cover the credit card fee. 

Iowa There currently is no charge to apply for an Iowa sales tax permit.  

Kansas There currently is no charge to apply for a Kansas sales tax permit.  

Kentucky There currently is no charge to apply for a Kentucky sales tax permit.  

Louisiana Currently, there is no charge to apply for either the Direct Marketer Permit or the General Sales and Use Permit in Louisiana.

Maine Currently, there is no charge for a sales tax permit in Maine.

Maryland Currently, there is no charge for a Sales and Use Permit in Maryland.

Massachusetts  Currently, there is no fee to register for a Massachusetts sales tax permit.

Michigan Currently, there is no charge for a Michigan sales permit. 

Minnesota  Currently, there is no charge to apply for a Sales and Use tax permit in Minnesota.

Mississippi Currently, there is no charge to apply for a Sales and Use permit in Mississippi.

Missouri  Currently, there is no charge for a Missouri Vendor Use Tax permit.

Nebraska There currently is no charge to apply for a Nebraska sales tax permit.

Nevada The Nevada sales tax permit is also known as a Certificate of Authority. If you are applying through the website, there is no charge to apply for the sales tax permit. If, however, you are applying via a paper application, there is a $15 charge that needs to be submitted with the application.

New Jersey There currently is no charge to apply for a permit with the state of New Jersey.

New Mexico There currently is no charge to apply for a New Mexico CRS number.  

New York There currently is no charge to apply for a New York Certificate of Authority. 

North Carolina Currently, there is no charge to apply for a sales tax permit in North Carolina.

North Dakota There is no fee to register for a permit with the state of North Dakota. 

Ohio Currently, there is no charge for the Ohio Out of State Seller Permit.

Oklahoma Currently, there is no charge for a Vendor Use Permit in the state of Oklahoma.  There is, however, a $20 charge for applying for the Sales Permit with the state of Oklahoma.

Pennsylvania There currently is no charge to apply for a Pennsylvania sales tax permit.

Rhode Island There is a $10 charge that must be paid at registration with a credit card, via the website.  If using a paper application, please attach a $10 check.

South Carolina Currently, there is a $50 fee to apply for a sales permit in South Carolina.

South Dakota There currently is no charge to apply for either type of South Dakota sales tax permit, a sales tax or a use tax license.

Tennessee There currently is no charge to apply for a Tennessee sales tax permit.

Texas There currently is no charge to apply for a Texas sales tax permit.

Utah

There currently is no charge to apply for a Utah sales tax permit.

Vermont There currently is no charge to apply for a Vermont Sales and Use Tax Permit.

Virginia There currently is no charge to apply for a Virginia sales tax permit. 

Washington The business registration fee in the State of Washington is $19 plus a $5 fee if you are registering your business name/trade name. 

West Virginia West Virginia charges a $30 fee for the sales tax application.

Wisconsin Wisconsin currently charges a $20 registration fee to apply for the Seller’s Permit.

Wyoming There is a $60 permit fee that will be billed after your Wyoming sales and use tax license has been approved.

 

TaxValet - The Ultimate Sales Tax Checklist

Disclaimer: Our attorney wanted you to know that no financial, tax, legal advice or opinion is given through this post. All information provided is general in nature and may not apply to your specific situation and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Information is provided “as is” and without warranty.

Share

Get expert sales tax insights!

Eliminate sales tax headaches with TaxValet guides, tips & resources delivered right to your inbox.