Sales Tax & Putting a Resale Permit on File
No Action Required unless you are a business with tax exemption status.
Businesses with tax exemption status only, due to the 2018 Wayfair Decision, we are required to charge sales tax on all orders shipped within the United States. If you are a tax exempt customer or have a resale permit, you may put that information on file with us, and we will not charge sales tax on your orders. Proof of tax exemption and/or permission to resell are required for each state you ship to. Shipments to locations where you are exempt and/or permitted for resale will not be charged tax. Shipments to locations other than where you are exempt and/or permitted for resale will be charged the appropriate tax for the shipping location.
Put your Resale Certificates/Permits on File with Us
Start by attaining and signing the Resale Certificate form for the appropriate state(s). Forms are usually available on the State's official government websites, or you can use our list of links by State below.
Follow the instructions below to add Resale Certificates/Permits to your Bay Photo Account:
- Log in to your account at my.bayphoto.com
- In the Account settings dropdown menu, click on the “Tax exemption certificates” button
- Click “Add new certificate”
- Fill out the available fields and upload a JPEG or PDF version of your Certificate
- Click “Create”
- If you have resale certificates/permits for multiple states, repeat the process above for each certificate
Please make sure that your Bay Photo Lab account name and the name on the exemption documentation match.
After the permit information is on file, the appropriate tax or tax exemption for the shipping destination will automatically be applied based on your exemption status for that state.
Sales Tax FAQs
What is a resale certificate?
A resale certificate indicates the item was purchased in good faith with the intent that the purchaser would resell the item and report tax on the final sale to the applicable state the item was shipped to. This includes filing the appropriate paperwork to the state and paying the sales tax you collected due to that state.
What if I am not reselling the product(s) I am ordering?
We will charge appropriate sales tax on your orders for the destinations they are shipped to. No further action is required.
Is my order tax exempt?
An order is exempt if we have your Tax Exemption/Resale Certificate on file for each state you ship to. If we do not have a certificate on file, sales tax will be applied using the tax rates of the destination state.
How do I know if I need a Resale Certificate?
You will need to contact your local Sales Tax Board or your tax advisor for the specific rules for your state(s). We are not versed in the requirements or guidelines of each state and are unable to coach you on how to handle your sales tax.
I filed tax exemption paperwork with Bay Photo in the past. Do I need to do anything?
We implemented a new system in 2019, so if you filed tax exemption information with us in the past, you may need to upload your resale certificate(s) to our new system for your orders to be tax exempt.
How do I check to see if I have a relevant Resale Certificate on file?
Log in to your account at my.bayphoto.com and click on the “Certificates” button. If you have tax paperwork on file, it will be listed here.
Do you issue the Certificates?
No. Certificates are issued by your state.
I live in a state that does not collect sales tax. What do I do?
Sales tax will not be collected on orders shipped to your state, however we do need to collect any applicable sales tax for orders shipped out of that state.
I am in a state that does not issue a paper Resale Certificate, just a Number. What do I do?
Please fill out the form provided on our website below, entering in your Resale Number in the appropriate field. You can also go to the Sales Tax Agency website for the state in question to download the correct form.
My business is located outside the US, but I drop-ship to clients in the US. Is sales tax collected on those orders?
Yes, if the SHIP TO address is a domestic US address, sales tax is applicable. To be tax exempt, upload a resale certificate for the destination state before you place an order that will be drop-shipped to that state.
What do I do if I sell through Etsy or other 3rd party websites?
Please contact the 3rd party website you sell through to obtain the letter/notice that they are collecting sales tax on your behalf.
Who do I list as Seller/Purchaser on the form?
As related to the form you submit to us, you are the Seller purchasing from Bay Photo Lab.
Who do I contact for more information?
If you have any further questions about certificates or Bay Photo’s tax policies, please email accounting@bayphoto.com and include your Customer Number along with your question.
Resale Certificates by State
This information is provided for reference only. For full information and accuracy, please consult with a tax professional.