State to State Resale Certificate Requirements
Why Is a Resale Certificate Required?
A resale certificate allows a business to purchase inventory without paying sales tax when the items are being bought strictly for resale to end customers.
States require resale certificates to ensure that sales tax is collected only once — at the final retail sale — rather than at every step of the supply chain.
- ✔ Prevents double taxation
- ✔ Confirms the buyer is a legitimate reseller
- ✔ Ensures compliance with state tax laws
- ✔ Allows wholesalers to sell inventory tax-exempt
If a valid resale certificate or sales tax permit is not provided or not accepted by the state, sales tax may be required at checkout.
Resale certificates may only be used for inventory intended for resale and may not be used for personal or business-use items.
| State | Permit / Certificate | How to Obtain | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Sales Tax License | Register business for sales tax | Apply |
| Alaska | No state sales tax | No state permit required (local rules may apply) | Info |
| Arizona | TPT License | Register for Transaction Privilege Tax | Apply |
| Arkansas | Sales & Use Tax Permit | Register with DFA | Apply |
| California | Seller’s Permit | Register with CDTFA | Apply |
| Colorado | Sales Tax License | Register state & local tax accounts | Apply |
| Connecticut | Sales & Use Tax Permit | Register with DRS | Apply |
| Delaware | No sales tax | No resale certificate required | Info |
| Florida | Annual Resale Certificate | Register for FL sales tax (renews yearly) | Apply |
| Georgia | Sales Tax Registration | Register with GA DOR | Apply |
| Hawaii | GET License | Register for General Excise Tax | Apply |
| Idaho | Seller’s Permit | Register with State Tax Commission | Apply |
| Illinois | Sales Tax Account | Register with IL DOR | Apply |
| Indiana | Retail Merchant Certificate | Register with IN DOR | Apply |
| Iowa | Sales Tax Permit | Register with IA DOR | Apply |
| Kansas | Retail Sales Tax License | Register with KS DOR | Apply |
| Kentucky | Sales & Use Tax Permit | Register with KY DOR | Apply |
| Louisiana | Sales Tax Account | Register via LaTAP | Apply |
| Maine | Sales Tax Registration | Register with Maine Revenue | Apply |
| Maryland | Sales & Use Tax License | Register with Comptroller | Apply |
| Massachusetts | Sales Tax Registration | Register via MassTaxConnect | Apply |
| Michigan | Sales Tax License | Register with Treasury | Apply |
| Minnesota | Sales & Use Tax Permit | Register with MN DOR | Apply |
| Mississippi | Sales Tax Permit | Register with MS DOR | Apply |
| Missouri | Sales Tax License | Register with MO DOR | Apply |
| Montana | No sales tax | No resale certificate required | Info |
| Nebraska | Sales Tax Permit | Register with NE DOR | Apply |
| Nevada | Sales Tax Permit | Register with NV DOR | Apply |
| New Hampshire | No sales tax | No resale certificate required | Info |
| New Jersey | Certificate of Authority | Register with NJ Division of Taxation | Apply |
| New Mexico | CRS ID Number | Register with NM Taxation | Apply |
| New York | Certificate of Authority | Register with NY Dept. of Taxation | Apply |
| North Carolina | Sales & Use Tax Account | Register with NC DOR | Apply |
| North Dakota | Sales Tax Permit | Register with ND Tax Commissioner | Apply |
| Ohio | Vendor’s License | Register with OH DOR | Apply |
| Oklahoma | Sales Tax Permit | Register with OK Tax Commission | Apply |
| Oregon | No sales tax | No resale certificate required | Info |
| Pennsylvania | Sales Tax License | Register with PA DOR | Apply |
| Rhode Island | Sales Tax Permit | Register with RI Division of Taxation | Apply |
| South Carolina | Retail License | Register with SC DOR | Apply |
| South Dakota | Sales Tax License | Register with SD DOR | Apply |
| Tennessee | Sales & Use Tax Registration | Register with TN DOR | Apply |
| Texas | Sales & Use Tax Permit | Register with TX Comptroller | Apply |
| Utah | Sales Tax License | Register with UT Tax Commission | Apply |
| Vermont | Business Tax Account | Register with VT DOR | Apply |
| Virginia | Retail Sales Tax Registration | Register with VA Taxation | Apply |
| Washington | Reseller Permit | Register business & apply for reseller permit | Apply |
| West Virginia | Business Registration Certificate | Register with WV Tax Dept. | Apply |
| Wisconsin | Seller’s Permit | Register with WI DOR | Apply |
| Wyoming | Sales Tax License | Register with WY DOR | Apply |
