Running an eCommerce business comes with many responsibilities. Some of the most important include staying on top of taxes and regulations. This helps prevent penalties or other issues that affect your business. The following tips can help you understand these better.
Destination-Based vs. Origin-Based Sales Taxes
Many states use a destination-based approach to sales tax. This means online businesses charge sales tax based on a customer’s location. Other states use an origin-based approach, which means state taxes are based on the business location.
For example, if orders are shipped from a business or fulfillment warehouse in one state, the sales tax for those might be based on the customer’s state under destination-based sales tax sourcing. With origin-based sourcing, the sales tax would be based on the company’s location.
State Tax Rules
It’s important to become familiar with state tax rules, which differ from state to state. Some states don’t tax apps or other digital goods, while others do. Some states have tax exemptions when you sell overseas. Other tax-related issues to be aware of include sales tax holidays and exemptions.
Examples of exemptions include survival items, such as prescriptions or groceries, wholesale exemptions, and non-profit exemptions. Study the specific tax exemptions for different states to see which apply to your eCommerce business.
Sales Tax Permits and Reporting
Some states require business owners to have a permit in order to collect sales taxes in certain jurisdictions. Apply for one if needed before you begin collecting this money. For sales tax reporting, keep deadlines in mind to avoid being hit with penalties.
Partnering with the right fulfillment warehouse allows you to focus on taxes and regulations instead of picking, packing, and shipping orders. Contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics today to find out how we can help your eCommerce business.