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Understanding US Sales Tax Registration

The consumption tax levied on consumers for the sale of goods and services is known as sales tax. The sales tax in the US is on the state level and has its own sales tax rules and regulations. The US sales tax registration process is also complex, and businesses are required to ensure compliance with the respective stateโ€™s sales tax regulations.

In the US, it is mandatory to register for sales tax in each state where you meet the economic or physical nexus standard. For companies that are operating out of the state, the economic nexus will be the applicable standard. The economic threshold for sales tax registration is based on either the transaction volume or sales revenue. The companies that have physical presence, like an office or a headquarters, will be applicable for physical nexus.

Sales tax registration in the US is with an individual stateโ€™s Department of Revenue. To legally collect sales tax, a US sales tax registration permit is a mandatory step.

Statewide Sales Tax in 45 States & District of Columbia

13,000+ Sales Tax Jurisdictions Exist in the US

100% of US States with Sales Tax Enforce Economic Nexus

E-commerce Accounts for over 20% of Total US Retail Sales

Sales Tax Filing Frequency Based on Revenue Volume

Multi-state Sales Tax Registration

Sales Tax Filing Service in the USA with Enterslice

The US marketplace sales tax compliance is made easy with Enterslice. We automate global tax compliance so that you can identify your sales tax obligations. Connect with our experts for sales tax filing service in the USA.

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How Does the Streamlined Sales Tax System Simplify US Sales Tax Registration Across Multiple States?

In the US, if your business has legal obligations in multiple states, you can register for sales tax through the Streamlined Sales Tax Registration System (SSTRS). This system allows 24 member states for US sales tax registration through a single application.

  • Uniform Definitions :- It ensures that member states follow uniform definitions of common terms such as clothing or food.
  • Simplified Tax Rates :- Member states adopt simplified tax rates and structures, making sales tax calculation and filing easier.
  • Audit Simplifications :- The Streamlined Sales Tax Registration System (SSTRS) simplifies audit procedures for businesses operating across multiple states.
  • Centralised Registration :- A single centralized registration system helps businesses with multiple nexus points simplify compliance and legal obligations.

What are the Benefits of Sales Tax Registration in the US?

The benefits of sales tax registration in the US include:

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Legal Authorization

Sales tax registration in the US provides you with a permit that gives you the legal authorization to collect sales tax on behalf of the government from consumers.

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Smoother Business Operations and Audits

Sales tax registration in the US state where your business meets the set standard of nexus reduces the complications during tax audits and makes business operations smoother.

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Access to Compliance Resources

If your state is a member of the Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) program, you can access the Certified Service Providers (CSPs) system that provides automation for compliance requirements.

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Stable Source of Revenue

The sales tax provides a stable source of revenue for the government to fund public services. It ensures a predictable flow of income, especially in uncertain economic times.

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Broad Tax Base

Sales tax is applied across various types of goods and services, making it easy and simplified to collect, as the sales tax contributes to a broad tax base for the state government. It is one of the benefits of US sales tax registration.

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Easy to Collect

Since sales tax is collected during the sale, it simplifies the administrative burden for both the government and the business, making compliance and collection easier.

How to Register the Sales Tax in the US?

To register the sales tax in the US, you will have access to the official online portal of the respective Department of Revenue. The process involves:

Determine Where You have Nexus

The first step is to determine where you have nexus in the US, as you will have to register and collect sales tax in the state where you have either physical nexus or economic nexus.

Prepare Mandatory Documents

The second step is to prepare and gather the mandatory documents required for sales tax registration in the US, such as EIN, trade name, business structure and identity information.

Access Your Stateโ€™s Application Portal

Once your documents are ready, you will have to access your stateโ€™s Department of Revenue online portal. You will have to navigate to the US sales tax registration section and fill out the form with supporting documents.

Complete and Submit the Application Correctly

Fill out the application form accurately with all the required information, such as EIN or SSN, contact information, and NAICS code, etc., so that there are no delays. After review, you can submit the application.

Pay the Fees

After you have submitted the form in the online portal, you may have to pay the fees online. Although some states do not have any charges, it depends on the respective state.

Wait for Approval and Obtain Your Permit

The last step is to wait for approval, which will take around 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the state. Once approved, you will obtain your sales tax permit either electronically or by mail.

Who Pays the Sales Tax in the US: Buyer or the Seller?

The sales tax in the US is paid by the buyer. The consumer pays for the sales tax when buying a service or a product, and the fund is eventually remitted by the business to the government. The business seller is therefore a mediator between the consumer and the government.

The businesses must ensure that the sales tax rate collected is accurate and correctly file the sales tax in compliance with the respective state laws. Therefore, the responsibility and the tax burden are eventually shared by both the business and the buyer and benefit the entire society.

Talk to Enterslice consultants, and let us help you overcome the challenges with minimum effort.

Who Needs a Sales Tax Permit in the US?

Businesses that have a nexus in the US are required to get a sales tax permit in the US. In the US, there are two standards of nexus: one is physical nexus, and the other is the economic nexus. The rules apply to both online and offline business sellers.

  • Physical Nexus :- If your business has a physical presence in a US state, such as an office, warehouse, inventory, or employees, it creates a physical nexus for sales tax purposes.
  • Economic Nexus :- If your business meets specific sales revenue or transaction thresholds (for example, 200 transactions, varying by state), it establishes an economic nexus, commonly applicable to e-commerce businesses.
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Common Mistakes Made by Businesses with the US Sales Tax

There are common mistakes made by businesses with the US sales tax, which include:

  • Applying incorrect sales tax rates
  • Improper handling of tax-exempt sales
  • Late filing of sales tax or inaccurate filings
  • Failure to determine sales tax nexus (physical or economic threshold)
  • Neglecting local and state-level taxes in the US

Compliance and Legal Requirements for US Sales Tax Registration

The sales tax laws in the US are diverse, as the tax rate varies across states. The important compliance and legal requirements for US Sales tax registration are mentioned below-

  • Determine your nexus, which depends on your businessโ€™s physical presence or sales threshold in the US state.
  • Collect the correct sales tax rates in the US based on the location of the sale.
  • File sales tax returns with the tax authority and ensure all collected tax details are accurately recorded.
  • Collect and securely store valid exemption certificates when selling to tax-exempt entities.

What will Happen if you donโ€™t Register for Sales Tax in the US?

Failing to register and pay sales tax in the US will lead to serious charges, including a financial penalty, large fines and may even lead to criminal charges. Businesses that are neglecting the sales tax obligations in the US will have to bear the consequences.

If your business meets the standard of the nexus, it is mandatory for you to register your business for sales tax in the individual state where your business has a legal obligation. The common consequences for failing to register are increased audit risk, loss of business license, damage to the reputation and company valuation, and significant penalties.

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Why Trust Enterslice with US Sales Tax Registration?

Enterslice, with an experience of over 10+ years in global business and legal consulting, will help you navigate the sales tax laws of the US. We have a team of expert legal, financial and tax experts that can help you stay in compliance with the regulatory laws. The key reasons why Enterslice is your ideal partner for US Sales tax registration-

  • Provide a free assessment to help you understand your US sales tax obligations.
  • Help determine which US states you must register in based on your nexus.
  • Assist with completing and submitting sales tax registrations across multiple states.
  • Guide you on marketplace, physical, and economic nexus requirements.
  • Help set up your sales tax accounts in full compliance with US tax laws.
  • Provide 24/7 client support for all compliance and filing-related queries.
  • Maintain transparent pricing throughout the sales tax registration process.
  • Help track monthly, quarterly, or annual sales tax filing obligations.
  • Explain state-specific sales tax requirements across different US jurisdictions.
  • Offer guidance on accurate collection, recording, and remittance of sales tax.
  • Provide ongoing support for all US business-related queries.
  • Assist in managing multi-state sales tax registration and compliance efficiently.

FAQs on the US Sales Tax Registration

The sales tax in the US is a consumption tax, which is an indirect tax levied by the business on the sale of goods and services, but paid by the end consumer. The business is responsible for charging the sales tax on the customer and then remitting the tax to the local state authority on time. In the USA, the sales tax is regulated at the state level with varying rates.

To register for US sales tax registration, you will have to apply online through the Department of Revenue in the state where you are doing business. Most of the states in the US allow businesses to register online through the official portal. Additionally, if you have business in multiple states that are under the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement (SST), you can register all of them through the SSTRS website.

In the US, the state with the highest sales tax is Louisiana, with a sales tax of 10.11%. This tax rate is a combination of the local sales tax rate of 5.11% and a state sales tax rate of 5.00%. Louisiana has a high sales tax rate, as it heavily relies on it because the stateโ€™s other taxes are kept low.

According to the new update, five states in the US do not impose any sales tax: Alaska, Oregon, Montana, Delaware and New Hampshire. These five states in the US are often referred to as the NOMAD.

The most tax-friendly state in the US currently is Alaska. The overall tax burden of Alaska is lower compared to other states in the US, as it does not have any sales tax or individual state income tax. The overall tax rate of Alaska is 4.93%, making it the most tax-friendly state in the country.

In the US, most of the states have a uniform sales statewide tax rate; however, in some other states, there are extra local sales tax rates, such as on a municipal, county and district level. Therefore, the exact sales tax rate and regulations in the US will vary, depending on the state.

The US Sales Tax Rate in 2025

  1. Highest Sales Tax Rate: Louisiana at 10.11%
  2. Lowest Sales Tax Rate: Colorado at 2.9%
  3. 0% Sales Tax Rate: Delaware, Alaska, Montana, Oregon and New Hampshire.

In the US, the economic nexus is a legal standard that allows a specific state to require a business to collect sales tax and remit to the tax authority, solely depending on the value or volume of the financial activity within the state, even without any physical presence. The economic nexus will assess whether the business can collect and remit sales tax.

Key Points of the Economic Nexus in the US:

  • Threshold: The common threshold for economic nexus in the US is $100,000 in sales or a number of sales transactions, which is usually 200 in the state.
  • State Variation: The threshold varies depending on the state, while some states have removed the transaction threshold completely.
  • Obligations: If your business meets the requirement of the economic nexus threshold, you will have to register for a sales tax permit, collect and file sales tax.
  • Exemptions: The five states in the US, that is, the NOMAD states, do not impose sales tax.

The economic threshold in the US for sales tax is based on the individual state. However, there are three types of threshold categories depending on the trigger. The first threshold trigger is based on sales value, which is usually $100,000, $500,000 or $250,000; the second trigger is based on the number of transactions, which is usually 200 and a few states do not have any sales tax.

Yes, removing the transaction threshold will simplify the compliance for sales tax in the US. It simplifies the transaction, mostly for small businesses and small online sellers. Removing the transaction threshold also reduces the administrative burden.

Businesses will have to register for sales tax, provided they meet state thresholds, which is an economic nexus, to legally collect sales tax from consumers and remit the collected tax to the state and local government. The registration process for sales tax in the US is managed by the individual stateโ€™s Department of Revenue.

Why Registration for Sales Tax is Important

  • Legal Requirement: Without registration and a permit, you cannot collect sales tax in the US.
  • Fair Competition: Ensures fair competition between in-state retailers, online and out-of-state sellers.
  • Help Avoid Penalties: If you fail to register and comply with the US sales tax laws, you may be fined or experience penalties.
  • Fund Public Services: Sales tax is the primary source of funds to fund the public services.

You need to register for sales tax individually with the respective state in the US. However, if the state you are registering in is a member of the Streamlined Sales Tax (SST), you can register for sales tax at the same time for multiple states through the SST system.

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