A seller’s permit is commonly known as a sales tax permit, reseller permit, resale certificate, sales tax exemption certificate, sales tax license or sales and use tax permit. In the state of Florida it is formally referred to as a business registration. This registration will furnish a business with a unique Florida sales tax number, otherwise referred to as a Florida sales tax ID number. It is essential to know that obtaining this certificate is one of the first steps a business owner should take when starting a business. As the task of collecting sales tax falls on the business that makes the sales and not the consumer, any failure to remit sales tax may lead to interest charges, fines and/or criminal charges.
You need to get a sales tax permit and comply with sales tax laws if you have nexus or a connection to the state of Florida. Nexus can be triggered by either physical or economic presence.
You will have to comply with the state of Florida’s individual sales tax laws and apply for a seller’s permit if:
The examples above establish the connection (nexus) between the state and the seller. This allows the state to impose a sales tax collection obligation on the seller.
Additionally, as of June 2018, the Supreme Court of the Unites States ruled that nexus can also be established by an entity conducting economic activity in a state. This is what is known as remote seller nexus. If a remote seller has above a certain amount of sales volume and/or transactions in another state, they are required to register for sales tax. This means that all online sellers on marketplaces (Amazon, Sears, Walmart, Etsy, Big Commerce, Shopify, eBay etc.) may have to potentially collect and pay sales tax.
Another closely related permit is a Florida resale certificate -also known as a sales tax exemption certificate- which grants your business the benefit of being able to buy goods without paying local sales tax on them. When doing this, you are the primary party responsible for collecting the tax from the customer when you sell the item. To print your Sales and Use Tax Annual Resale Certificate, you will need to provide your Florida Sales Tax Number.
You can either fill out a paper application and file it in person or you can simply submit an online application. It is strongly recommended that all new businesses file for their sales tax permits through an online tax registration application as it is the easiest and fastest way to apply. For the fastest processing time, please have the following information ready to complete the online application for a Florida Sales Tax Number:
Business name, physical/ mailing address & phone number
A short description of the business
The owner or officer’s Information
Payment information
Register for a Florida Sales Tax Permit Online by filling out and submitting the “Florida Sales Tax Application” form. This permit will furnish your business with a unique sales tax number (Florida Sales Tax ID Number). Once you complete the online process, you will receive a confirmation with all relevant important information within 1-2 business days. Shortly after that, you will receive your documents directly from the Florida Department of Revenue and your Florida sales tax account will be ready for future use.