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Understanding the Complexities of US Sales Tax: A Comprehensive Guide

  • US sales tax is a consumption tax charged at the final purchase of a product by the end consumer
  • Sales tax exists at the state and local levels, with different tax laws and rates in each state
  • Businesses need a sales tax permit for each state where they are registered
  • Taxable products include tangible goods, professional services, services related to tangible personal property, and software and data processing
  • There are sales tax exemptions based on the type of product, use of the product, and type of buyer
  • Nexus refers to a commercial connection in a state, determining whether a business is liable for taxes there
  • Sales tax is calculated as a percentage of the total taxable purchase and varies at the state and local levels
  • The Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board aims to simplify and standardize the sales tax system across the US
  • Steps to comply with US sales tax system include getting a Federal Tax ID, registering for sales tax, determining customer locations, applying sales tax, sending proper tax invoices, and filing sales tax returns
  • Non-US businesses should not ignore US sales tax laws, as state agencies are cracking down on non-compliance
  • Using a cloud-based accounting tool can help automate the US sales tax process and keep records safe online.

Source: quaderno.io

Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.

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