How to file sales tax in each state

You’ve done the hard work of calculating and collecting sales tax from your customers. Now what do you do with it? Turns out – like most things when it comes to sales tax — each state has a different process for filing. So, if you are looking for how to file sales tax in each state and ensure it ends up in the right place — we’ve got your back. Below you’ll find each state (that has sales tax!) and the information you need to file your sales tax returns correctly.

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Alabama

The Alabama Department of Revenue requires that online sellers file sales tax online. You can file My Alabama Taxes (MAT).

If you are remitting more than $750 in one payment, Alabama requires you to pay via electronic funds transfer (EFT) through My Alabama Taxes ONE SPOT.

Note: If paying by EFT Alabama requires that the funds must be transmitted on or before 4pm CT on the day that sales tax is due or be considered late.

But if you are remitting less than $750 and want to pay by mail, just mail your check to this address: Alabama Department of Revenue Sales & Use Tax Division P. O. Box 327790 Montgomery, AL 36132-7790

Alaska

File online at the Alaska Remote Seller Sales Tax Commision. You can remit your payment through their online system.

Arizona

You have two options for filing and paying your Arizona sales tax:

File online – File online at the Arizona Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.
File by mail – You can use Form TPT-EZ if you live in-state, or TPT-2 if you live out-of-state and file and pay through the mail, though you must file and pay online if your tax liability in the previous year was $1,000,000 or more.

Arkansas

You have two options for filing and paying your Arkansas sales tax:

File online – File online at the Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point (ATAP). You can remit your payment through their online system.
File by mail – You can use Form ET-1 and file and pay through the mail. To file this way you must contact the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration at 501-682-7104 and a form ET-1 will be mailed to you. Here are instructions for filling out Arkansas sales tax form ET-1.

California

You have two options for filing your sales tax:

File online – You can remit your sales tax payment through the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration’s online system. This step-by-step guide shows you how to file your California sales tax return the easy way.
File by mail – You can use California’s short form sales and use tax return and file through the mail, though you must pay online if your estimated monthly tax liability is $10,000 or more.

Colorado

You have two options for filing your sales tax:

File online at the Colorado Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.
File by mail – you can also fill out form DR-0100 and mail it in to the Colorado Department of Revenue.

As an added bonus, Colorado has also provided a list of common sales tax filing errors you may want to be on the lookout for.

Connecticut

File online at the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. Connecticut requires that taxpayers pay electronically through their online system.

District of Columbia

You have a few options for filing and paying your Washington, D.C. sales tax:

File online – File online with D.C. Freefile. You can remit your payment through their online system.
File by mail – You can use paper form FR-800A to file and pay annually, FR-800Q to file and pay quarterly, and FR-800M to file and pay monthly.

Florida

You have two options for filing and paying your Florida sales tax:

File online: File online at the Florida Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.
File by mail: You can use Form DR-15 and file and pay through the mail.

Georgia

You have two options for filing and paying your Georgia sales tax:

File online File online at the Georgia Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.
File by mail You can use Form ST-3, and file and pay through the mail.

Hawaii

File online at the Hawaii Tax Online. You can remit your payment through their online system.

Idaho

You have two options for filing and paying your Idaho sales tax:

File online – File online at the Idaho State Tax Commission’s Taxpayer Access Point (TAP). You can remit your payment through their online system.
File by mail – You can use Form 850 and file and pay through the mail. Idaho will mail you a personalized Form 850.

Illinois

You have two options for filing and paying your Illinois sales tax:

File online – File online at MyTax Illinois. You can remit your payment through their online system.
File by mail – You can use Form ST-1 and file and pay through the mail.

Indiana

File online at the Indiana Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.

Iowa

File online at the Iowa Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.

Kansas

You have two options for filing and paying your Kansas sales tax:

File online – File online at the Kansas Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system. (If you’ve never used this system before, you may have to contact the Kansas Department of Revenue for your access code.)
File by mail – You can use Form ST-16 for single jurisdiction filers or Form ST-36 for multiple jurisdiction filers and file and pay through the mail.

Kentucky

File online at the Kentucky Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.

Louisiana

To file and pay your Louisiana sales tax you have some options:

File online at the Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point: You can remit your payment through their online system.
Pay by credit card.

Maine

To file and pay your Maine sales tax you have some options:

File online at the Maine Department of Revenue with Maine I-File. You can remit your payment through their online system.
File by mail using form ST-7

Maryland

File online File online at the Maryland Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.

Massachusetts

You have two options for filing and paying your Massachusetts sales tax:

File online – File online at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system. Businesses with more than $5,000 in tax liability must use this method to file.
File by mail – Fill out and mail in form ST-9

Michigan

You have two options for filing and paying your Michigan sales tax:

File online – File online at the Michigan Treasury Online. You can remit your payment through their online system.
File by mail – You can use Form 5080 and file and pay through the mail, though this form is only applicable for monthly or quarterly filers.

Minnesota

You have two options for filing and paying your Minnesota sales tax:

File online – File online at the Minnesota Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system. If you have a sales and use tax liability of $10,000 or more in the state’s fiscal year (July 1 June 30), you must pay all taxes electronically beginning with the next calendar year.
File by phone – Call 1-800- 570-3329 to file by touch-tone phone. If you have a sales and use tax liability of $10,000 or more in the state’s fiscal year (July 1 – June 30), you must pay all taxes electronically beginning with the next calendar year.

Mississippi

File online at the Mississippi Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system

Missouri

You have two options for filing and paying your Missouri sales tax:

File online – File online at the Missouri Department of Revenue. (If filing from out of state, choose “Vendor’s Use Tax.”) You can remit your payment through their online system. High-volume sellers (who have made payments of $8,000 or more in the prior tax year) are required to file online. In some cases, quarterly filers may be required to pay online, too.
File by mail – You can use Form 53-1 and file and pay through the mail. The Missouri Department of Revenue will issue you this form. You will not receive paper returns in the mail if you have previously filed electronically (unless you contact the department and request future paper returns.)

Nebraska

You have two options for filing and paying your Nebraska sales tax:

File Form 10 online at the Nebraska Department of Revenue. You can also remit your payment through Nebraska E-Pay.
You can use Form 10 and file and pay through the mail.

Nevada

You have two options for filing and paying your Nevada sales tax:

File online at the Nevada Department of Taxation. You can remit your payment through their online system.
You can use Form TXR-01.01c and file and pay through the mail.

New Jersey

You have two options for filing and paying your New Jersey sales tax:

File online at the New Jersey Division of Taxation. You can remit your payment through their online system. Check here for our step-by-step guide to filing a New Jersey sales tax return.
You can use ST-50 and file and pay through the mail.

New Mexico

Click the E-File link and file online.

New York

File online at the New York Department of Taxation and Finance. You must also remit your payment through their online system.

North Carolina

You have two options for filing and paying your North Carolina sales tax:

File online at the North Carolina Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.
You can use form E-500 and file and pay through the mail, but North Carolina encourages all sellers to pay online.

North Dakota

You have two options for filing and paying your North Dakota sales tax:

File online at North Dakota Taxpayer Access Point (TAP). You can remit your payment through their online system.

Ohio

You have two options for filing and paying your Ohio sales tax:

The state of Ohio requires merchants to file sales tax online. You can file sales tax online at the Ohio Department of Taxation, and also remit your payment through their online system.
FIll out form UST-1, though Ohio encourages sellers to file online

Oklahoma

You have two options for filing and paying your Oklahoma sales tax:

File online at OK Tap. You can remit your payment through their online system.
You can use form STS-20002 to file on paper and by mail. Keep in mind that filers who pay more than $2500 per month are required by Oklahoma to file online.

Pennsylvania

You have two options for filing and paying your Pennsylvania sales tax:

File online at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.
File over the telephone- 1-800-748-8299

Rhode Island

You have two options for filing and paying your Rhode Island sales tax:

File online at the Rhode Island Division of Taxation.. You can remit your payment through their online system.
You can use the Rhode Island Streamlined Sales Tax Return and file and pay through the mail, though you must file and pay online if your tax liability in the previous year was $200 or more.

South Carolina

File online at the South Carolina Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.

South Dakota

File online at the South Dakota Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.

Tennessee

You have two options for filing and paying your Tennessee sales tax:

File online at the Tennessee Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system. Check here for our step-by-step guide to filing your Tennessee sales tax return.
Fill out and mail Tennessee form SLS-450

Texas

You have two options for filing and paying your Texas sales tax:

File online at the “TxComptroller eSystems” site. You can remit your payment through their online system. Click here for a step-by-step guide to filing your Texas sales tax returns.
You can also download a Texas Sales and Use tax return here.

Utah

You have two options for filing and paying your Utah sales tax:

File and Pay Online
After a sales tax license has been issued, the Tax Commission will mail a personalized return to each seller, unless the seller has elected to not receive paper returns. If a seller does not receive a paper return, it is the seller’s responsibility to obtain blank forms, file all appropriate return forms, and remit taxes by the due date. Returns must be filed even if no tax liability is due for a particular filing period.

Vermont

You have two options for filing and paying your Vermont sales tax:

Pay online using myVTax portal.
Send in a payment via mail to: Vermont Department of Taxes PO Box 1779, Montpelier, VT 05601-1779

Virginia

You have two options for filing and paying your Virginia sales tax:

File and pay through the Virginia Department of Taxation’s VATAX Online Service for Business. You can also remit your sales tax payment through their online system.
Fill out and mail form ST-8 (for out-of-state sellers) or ST-9 (for in-state sellers with one location)

Washington

You have two options for filing and paying your Washington sales tax:

File online at the Washington Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.
You can use various forms to file and pay through the mail.

West Virginia

You have a few options for filing and paying your West Virginia sales tax:

File online at MyTaxes.
Other payment options here.

Wisconsin

You have two options for filing and paying your Wisconsin sales tax:

File online at the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. You can remit your payment through their online system.
Fill out Wisconsin form ST-12 and mail it in

Wyoming

You have a few options for filing and paying your Wyoming sales tax:

The Excise Tax Division offers an internet filing option (WYIFS) for online filing.

How to file sales tax in each state - TaxJar (2024)

FAQs

Does TaxJar automatically calculate sales tax? ›

TaxJar helps you ensure you're collecting the proper amount of sales tax on your orders by offering Reporting and Calculation services. TaxJar does not collect and hold the sales tax for you (for example, in a special holding or escrow account).

Read On ›

How do you do multiple sales taxes? ›

Calculating the sales tax applied to a purchase is a matter of simply multiplying the tax rate by the purchase price using the equation sales tax = purchase price x sales tax rate. Adding the sales tax to the original purchase price gives the total price paid with tax.

Discover More Details ›

How to file sales tax in the USA? ›

To file your sales tax return, the first step is to gather the forms you need from the revenue department for the state in which you're filing (you can often find and complete these forms online). Fill out those forms with the numbers from your sales, and make sure you submit before your due date.

How do you record sales tax? ›

The journal entry for sales tax is a debit to the accounts receivable or cash account for the entire amount of the invoice or cash received, a credit to the sales account and a credit to the sales tax payable account for the amount of sales taxes billed.

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Does each state have a different sales tax? ›

Sales tax rates differ by state, but sales tax bases also impact how much revenue is collected from a tax and how the tax affects the economy. Sales tax rate differentials can induce consumers to shop across borders or buy products online.

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How do I record state taxes in QuickBooks? ›

Record a sales tax payment

Go to Taxes, then Sales tax (Take me there). From the Sales Tax Owed list, select the tax agency you're recording the payment for, then select Record Tax Payment.

Tell Me More ›

How do I change state taxes in QuickBooks? ›

Add your state account numbers

Sign in to QuickBooks Online as the Primary Admin. Go to Settings ⚙, then select Payroll Settings. Next to your state tax, select ✎. Or if you need to add your local tax account number, select your state local taxes link.

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Can you submit multiple tax returns? ›

So, while you may file or submit your tax return twice, only one return will be accepted by the IRS. Therefore, you may submit duplicate tax returns, but only one will actually be accepted and filed.

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Do you add or multiply sales tax? ›

In order to calculate the sales tax of an item, we need to first multiply the pre-tax cost of the item by the sales tax percentage after it has been converted into a decimal. Once the sales tax has been calculated it needs to be added to the pre-tax value in order to find the total cost of the item.

Is sales tax calculated with each item or the total? ›

Sales tax is calculated by multiplying the sales tax rate by the cost of the item being purchased and adding it to the total purchase price. Here's a step by step walkthrough of what this entails: Calculate the total cost of your transaction.

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Who is exempt from US sales tax? ›

Customer Exemptions

Depending on the state, these may include government entities, non-profits, and schools, to name a few. It is the buyers' responsibility to provide their exemption certificates in order to not be charged sales tax, and sellers need to keep documentation of these exemptions on file.

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Do I need to charge US sales tax? ›

In the US, businesses are required to collect sales tax from customers when they exceed certain thresholds. These thresholds are referred to as economic nexus thresholds, and they are revenue based, transaction based or both. Because sales tax is governed at the state level, these thresholds vary across the country.

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How does sales tax work in USA? ›

Sales tax is calculated by multiplying the purchase price by the applicable tax rate. The seller collects it at the time of the sale. Use tax is self-assessed by a buyer who has not paid sales tax on a taxable purchase. Unlike the value added tax, a sales tax is imposed only at the retail level.

Get More Info Here ›

Is TaxJar AutoFile worth it? ›

AutoFile is great, with our filings on autopilot we are able to put more focus on building and operating the business. I appreciate that TaxJar monitors and implements tax law changes for each state as that would be a monumental task for us to take on ourselves." The emails are really straightforward and super helpful.

Is TaxJar accurate? ›

TaxJar's rooftop accuracy, combined with our address validation service increases the overall accuracy of tax rates used on all of your transactions.

Does QuickBooks automatically calculate sales tax? ›

With automated sales tax, QuickBooks automatically calculates sales tax based on what you sell, where you sell, and where you ship. If your state changes something, like the sales tax rate, QuickBooks automatically updates your tax rates for you.

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Does Square automatically calculate sales tax? ›

Your application can apply taxes and discounts to orders and line items using either of the following options: Your business logic applies taxes and discounts to order line items. Square automatically applies taxes and discounts to order line items based on pricing rules and taxes that a seller defines in the catalog.

How to file sales tax in each state - TaxJar (2024)

FAQs

Does TaxJar automatically calculate sales tax? ›

Who is exempt from US sales tax? ›