How do I register for a sales tax permit?

What you’ll need: Business legal name and EIN · Formation state and date · Primary business address · Business type (sole proprietor, LLC, S-corp, etc.) · Start date of nexus in the state

Registering for a sales tax permit means applying with each state’s Department of Revenue for the authority to collect and remit sales tax. You can do this directly on the state’s website, through the Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) central registration system if you qualify, or through a sales tax compliance platform that handles registration on your behalf.

Step 1: Confirm you actually have nexus

Before registering, confirm you’ve crossed the threshold or have physical presence in the state. Registering creates a filing obligation, even if you have zero sales in a period, most states require you to file a return (even a zero return). Don’t register in states where you don’t yet have nexus.

If you have retroactive nexus exposure (you should have been collecting but weren’t), see What happens if I was supposed to register earlier and didn’t? before registering directly. A VDA may be the better first step.

Step 2: Choose your registration method

Option A: Register directly on the state’s website (any seller)

Every state with a sales tax has an online registration portal through its Department of Revenue. The process is similar across states:

1. Go to the state’s tax agency website (search “[State] sales tax registration” or “[State] Department of Revenue”)
2. Find the online registration portal, it’s often labeled “Register a New Business” or “Apply for a Tax Permit”
3. Complete the application (15–30 minutes per state)
4. Receive your permit number by email or mail (timeline varies by state, see below)

Option B: SST Central Registration (remote sellers using a CSP)

If you qualify as a remote seller (no physical presence in the SST member state) and use a Certified Service Provider (CSP) like TaxCloud, you can register in all 24 SST member states at once through the SST Central Registration system. This is faster and eliminates per-state applications.

The CSP handles the SST registration on your behalf. You provide your business information once; the CSP submits across all SST states you need. This is the most efficient path for sellers with nexus in multiple SST states.

See: What is the Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) Program? for the 24 states and how the program works.

Step 3: Gather required information

Most state registrations ask for the same core set of information. Prepare this before starting:

• Business legal name: exactly as registered with the IRS/state of formation
• EIN (Employer Identification Number): your federal tax ID
• Business address: physical address; P.O. boxes are often not accepted as the primary address
• Formation state and date: the state where your LLC, corp, or entity was organized
• Business type: sole proprietor, single-member LLC, S-corp, C-corp, partnership, etc.
• Start date of business activity in the state: when you first had nexus (inventory arrived, first sale, employee started)
• NAICS code: your business category code; most portals provide a searchable list
• Expected monthly sales volume in the state: used to assign your filing frequency

Step 4: Complete the registration

Work through the state’s online application. Common fields:

• Business contact information
• Owner/officer name, SSN (for sole proprietors) or EIN (for entities)
• Business activity description
• Whether you have a physical location in the state (employees, office, inventory)
• Anticipated start date of collection
• Banking information (some states set up ACH at registration for remittance)

Most states issue a permit number immediately or within 1–5 business days for online registrations. Some states require 2–4 weeks for paper processing or additional review.

Step 5: Configure collection starting on your collection date

The moment your permit is active, you’re obligated to collect. Update your sales channels (Shopify, WooCommerce, your ERP) to collect sales tax for the state on or after your registration effective date.

If you registered mid-month, your first return will cover sales from your registration date through end of the first filing period, not the entire month. See Registered mid-month: when does my sales tax obligation start?

States with notable registration steps

• California: requires registration through the CDTFA (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration); detailed process with several business type screens
• Texas: online registration via the Texas Comptroller; issues a permit number immediately online
• New York: Certificate of Authority application through the Department of Taxation and Finance; allows you to start collecting before the permit arrives if you applied

Using a compliance platform for registration

TaxCloud, Avalara, and TaxJar all offer registration services as part of their platform. Benefits:

• Handles the application for you across all states
• Ensures the start date is set correctly
• Connects the permit to your ongoing compliance calendar

If you have nexus in 5 or more states and are registering for the first time, having a platform handle registration is often faster and reduces errors from unfamiliar state portals.