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What Are State Sales Taxes?

Written by a TurboTax Expert • Reviewed by a TurboTax CPAUpdated for Tax Year 2024 • October 16, 2024 1:27 AM
OVERVIEW

Many states and local governments impose a direct tax on consumption when you purchase goods and services.

 

Key Takeaways

  • You're charged state sales taxes on goods and services you buy, and it's usually the merchant's job to collect and send this tax to the state.
  • Sales tax rates can vary, depending on the state. Some local governments add their own taxes, which changes the total you pay.
  • If you're in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, or Oregon, you usually won't pay any state sales tax at all.
  • Some essentials like prescription drugs and food might not be taxed or could have lower tax rates in some states.

Taxes when you spend

A sales tax is a direct tax on consumption that many states and local governments impose when you purchase goods and services. The amount of tax you pay is typically figured as a percentage of the sale price. As of 2024, 45 states and an array of counties and cities charge a sales tax.

Paying sales tax

As of 2024, five states, Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon, do not have a sales tax. Since sales taxes are based on fixed percentages, the only way to avoid paying it is to reduce your consumption or to make all of your purchases in one of the five states that don't impose it.

Sales tax exemptions

States usually exempt certain purchases such as prescription and nonprescription drugs and food items from sales tax. Of all the states that impose a sales tax, only Illinois charges the full rate of tax on these items. Just seven states charge sales taxes on food purchases. However, all seven offer a reduction in the rate rather than a full exemption, only charging from one to five percent on food purchases.

TurboTax Tip:

When you shop online, businesses usually need to collect sales tax when shipping to your state.

Collecting sales tax

Since sales taxes are imposed at the point of sale, merchants and service providers are responsible for collecting the tax and submitting it to the state. This requires many businesses that are likely to collect sales taxes to register with a state agency for a permit. This imposes an obligation on all merchants and service providers within a state to maintain records of all sales taxes collected and to make periodic payments to the government.

Online sales

The collection of sales taxes for online purchases has been a controversial topic over the years. Federal law prohibits a state from requiring a business to collect sales tax from customers in that state when the merchant has no connection with the state. For example, if a California company makes an online sale to a California resident, the company must collect sales tax. However, if the customer is a Wisconsin resident, then no sales tax is collected as long as the company doesn't have a location in Wisconsin. Alternatively, some states request consumer information from online retailers so the states can pursue the consumer directly and collect taxes for bring products into the state.

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The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation for advice on taxes, your investments, the law, or any other business and professional matters that affect you and/or your business.

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TURBOTAX DESKTOP DISCLAIMERS

  • Installation Requirements: Product download, installation and activation requires an Intuit Account and internet connection. Product limited to one account per license code. You must accept the TurboTax License Agreement to use this product. Not for use by paid preparers.

  • TurboTax Desktop Products: Price includes tax preparation and printing of federal tax returns and free federal e-file of up to 5 federal tax returns. Additional fees apply for e-filing state returns. E-file fees may not apply in certain states, check here for details. Savings and price comparison based on anticipated price increase. Software updates and optional online features require internet connection. Desktop add-on products and services purchased are non-refundable.

  • Fastest Refund Possible: Get your tax refund from the IRS as fast as possible by e-filing and choosing to receive your refund by direct deposit. Tax refund time frames will vary. The IRS issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days.

  • Average Refund Amount: $3,207 is the average refund amount American taxpayers received in the 2024 filing season based upon IRS data as of February 16, 2024 and may not reflect actual refund amount received.

  • TurboTax Technical Support: Customer service and technical support hours and options vary by time of year.

  • Deduct From Your Federal Refund: Individual taxes only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Additional terms apply. A $40 Refund Processing Service fee applies to this payment. method. Prices are subject to change without notice.

  • Data Import: Imports financial data from participating companies; Requires Intuit Account. Quicken and QuickBooks import not available with TurboTax installed on a Mac. Imports from Quicken (2022 and higher) and QuickBooks Desktop (2023 and higher); both Windows only. Quicken import not available for TurboTax Desktop Business. Quicken products provided by Quicken Inc., Quicken import subject to change.

  • Live Tax Advice: Access to tax experts to obtain answers to tax questions and to assist with tax year 2024 return(s) prepared with TurboTax Desktop software. Additional fees apply. Must be purchased and used by October 31, 2025. Excludes TurboTax Desktop Business. See License Agreement for details.

  • Audit Defense: Audit Defense is a third-party add-on service provided, for a fee, by TaxResources, Inc., dba Tax Audit. See Membership Agreements at https://turbotax.intuit.com/corp/softwarelicense/ for service terms and conditions.

All features, services, support, prices, offers, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

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