What is Pod?
POD stands for print on demand. POD is a printing technology and business process in which designs are not printed until the company receives an order, allowing prints of single or small quantities.
What is the advantage of POD?
This is an industry that has grown leaps and bounds because of digital printing technology. Before it only made sense to print in bulk because of the relatively high cost of small-scale printing. Now, a business can make great margins on printing products just based on customer demand. This means that you no longer have to order in bulk and sit on a bunch of unsold inventory.
What does this mean for me as a budding entrepreneur?
Print on demand is providing an amazing opportunity for people to start their own businesses online without having to provide any capital upfront. This means there is little risk for what could be very lucrative rewards. You offer a selection of designs that can be printed on various items such as t-shirts, hoodies, pullovers, and pop sockets.
What is E-commerce?
E-commerce simply refers to the buying and selling of goods and services on the internet and the data transactions that constitute payment. Brick and mortar stores are no longer the go-to for shopping as more people are going online for their retail needs.
How much money is in E-commerce?
Online shopping has been around for over 25 years and is expected to grow into a 4 trillion dollar industry. It is by far the fastest-growing retail market.
What is A Tax Resale Certificate?
It is critical that you understand that tax resale certificates can also be used on items that will be resold. Office supplies, such as new computers for your employees, would not fall under the category of retail. It would be considered fraud not to pay sales tax on these items.
If this is confusing for you, just think of tax resale certificates as state tax exemption certificates. Some states actually call them exemption certificates or reseller’s permits.
Is The Tax Resale Certificate The Same As A Seller’s Permit?
Even though tax resale certificates are called reseller’s permits in some states, it is important not to confuse them with seller’s permits. A seller’s permit allows a retailer to charge tax on items that they are going to sell to a customer. A tax resale certificate allows you to buy items that are intended for resale without paying a sales tax on those items.
Does A Vendor Have To Accept My Tax Resale Certificate?
It is extremely important to a retailer’s bottom line that they do not pay sales taxes on goods if there is a possibility that the tax can be exempted on a state level. However, it is also crucial to understand that a wholesaler is not required to accept your tax resale certificate in some states.
What If A Customer Presents Me With A Tax Resale Certificate?
A customer can also present a tax resale certificate to you as a retailer and it is your discretion whether or not you want to exempt them from the required sales tax. It is always a good idea to check on the certificate because you will be held responsible, if the certificate is expired or fraudulent, for the unpaid state sales tax. Verification is vital in making sure that the correct due diligence has been completed to authenticate the tax resale certificate.
What Do I Do if I Purchase Goods In Multiple States?
The tax resale certificate can be challenging if you purchase and sell goods in multiple states. It can mean keeping track of many types of certificates for different vendors. The multijurisdiction resale certificate, which is also known as a blanket retail certificate or a uniform sales tax certificate, can help ease this burden. As its name suggests this document can be used over multiple states. However, the document itself can be confusing and it is not accepted the same way in every state. It is important that the document is filled out correctly, and the retailer is aware of the different issues that can arise if it is misused.
Do All States Accept The Multijurisdictional Resale Certificates?
One should also recognize that the following states do not accept the multijurisdictional resale certificate:
- California
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Washington
Do All States Charge Sales tax?
There are also states that do not charge sales tax. Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon do not charge sales tax on a state level. Alaska and Montana do allow municipalities to charge sales tax on retail goods at a local level. A tax retail certificate is not needed in these places with regard to a state sales tax.
What Happens If I Do Most Of My Business In A State That I Am Not Incorporated?
If you primarily do business in a state that you are not incorporated in, make sure you apply for a Foreign Qualification (also known in some states as a Certificate of Registration or Certificate of Authority). This is the process of registering your company, which is considered domestic to the state in which it was initially formed and foreign to all other states, as a foreign entity in the states in which it operates. The retailer is then able to legally conduct business outside the state in which the company was initially formed and therefore should be able to apply for a tax resale certificate.
Tax Resale Certificate Is Here To Help
Not correctly understanding sales tax and the benefits of a tax resale certificate can lead to a great deal of trouble. A retailer could lose out on extremely beneficial sales tax exemption status. A savvy business owner will understand that having a tax resale certificate will save them a good deal of money but leave the actual headache of registration to someone else.
On the other hand, misunderstanding and not paying the correct sales tax to a state government could very much hurt a business’s standing and reputation. At Tax Resale Certificate, we make the process as easy as possible. Just take advantage of our user-friendly interface to help take the headache of applying for a tax resale certificate off your plate. This way you can completely focus on the great opportunities presented by your Print on Demand business.