Although internet shopping has grown in popularity over the years, it’s vital to understand that not all purchases made there are tax-free. In truth, a lot of states have adopted regulations governing sales taxes for internet purchases. Which states do therefore tax online purchases?
By 2021, online purchases will be subject to sales tax regulations in 43 states plus the District of Columbia. Common names for these regulations include “internet sales tax” and “e-commerce tax.” Currently, only Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon do not impose a sales tax.
However, even in places where there are sales tax regulations, certain internet purchases are exempt. For instance, some states don’t charge sales tax on digital goods like e-books and music downloads. Others exempt non-resident purchases or purchases made for particular things like clothing or school supplies.
Why then don’t all websites collect sales tax? The solution is more complicated than you may imagine. If a website does not have a physical presence in the state where the purchase is being made, it may not be required to collect sales tax from customers. The “physical presence nexus” rule refers to this. But in recent years, this norm has come under fire, and many states have expanded their sales tax regulations to cover online purchases made by sellers from other jurisdictions.
With the exception of Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon, Amazon collects sales tax in every state that imposes one. Sales tax is not, however, collected by Amazon on behalf of independent sellers using its platform. This implies that you can be liable for paying sales tax to your state directly if you buy something from a third-party vendor on Amazon.
The sales tax regulations in your state and the states where you are making online purchases are crucial to be aware of, to sum up. Although some websites and online merchants might not be required to charge sales tax, it’s crucial to be aware about these rules to prevent any unpleasant surprises at the checkout.
In states where they have a physical presence or if the seller has nexus in that state, Shopify may remit sales tax on behalf of the seller. However, it is ultimately the seller’s responsibility to make sure they are adhering to state rules while collecting and remitting sales tax.
Depending on the state, the answer to the question of whether or not webinars are liable to sales tax may change. While some states may exclude webinars from sales tax, other states may view them as taxable services. If you want to know whether sales tax is applicable to webinars, it’s essential to check with the state’s tax rules and regulations.