The basic rule for collecting sales tax from online sales is: If your business has a physical presence, or “nexus”, in a state, you must collect applicable sales taxes from online customers in that state. If you do not have a physical presence, you generally do not have to collect sales tax for online sales.

Is Amazon required to collect sales tax?

Technically speaking, Amazon does not charge sales tax because only governments can levy taxes. Since there is no federal sales tax in the United States, this means Amazon has to comply with the myriad of different state tax jurisdictions.

Do you have to charge sales tax for online sales?

Sales tax is governed at the state level. There is no “national” sales tax law in the U.S. Because of this, online sellers may find themselves dealing with quite different sales tax laws and rules when dealing with sales tax in the different U.S. states. Do You Have to Charge Sales Tax for Online Sales?

How to charge your customers the correct sales tax rates?

In these states, you charge sales tax based on the rate at your customer’s location (that is, their “ship to” address). This also most often the case for remote sellers in the states when you have nexus. More on this later. Example: You operate your business out your warehouse in Stamford, NY, and sell an item to someone in Buffalo, NY.

Do you have to charge sales tax to same-state customers?

If you live in an origin-based sales tax state, charge sales tax to same-state customers at your local area’s total combined sales tax rate. If you are considered a “remote seller” in an origin-based state, you’ll probably be required to charge sales at the total combined sales tax rate of your customer’s location.

Is there federal sales tax on ecommerce sales?

Many states get a majority of their revenue from sales tax, which is one reason they’ve been taking a closer look at ecommerce sellers. In the U.S., there is no “federal” sales tax. Instead, individual states administer sales tax. Because of this, all 45 states (and don’t forget D.C.!) that levy a sales tax have different rates, rules and laws.