How to get a Kentucky Resale Certificate [2023 Guide]
A Kentucky Resale Certificate is a document that allows a business to purchase goods and services tax-free from suppliers for the purpose of reselling those goods and services. In order to use one, the retailer will need to provide a Kentucky Resale Certificate to their vendor.
Learn more about what a resale certificate is, how to get one, and more.
What is a Resale Certificate?
When retailers purchase products to resell, they often don’t pay sales tax to the supplier on the purchase. The sales tax will still be paid, but instead of the retailer paying the state sales tax, the retailer charges sales tax to their customer on the final value of the merchandise. The collected sales tax is then sent by the retailer to the Kentucky Department of Revenue.
For example, when a pet store purchases dog toys from their supplier to sell in the store, the pet store owner won’t typically have to pay sales tax to their supplier. When a customer (or end-user) purchases the dog toy, the retailer will charge sales tax to the customer based on the full price of the toy. The retailer will collect the sales tax from all their transactions and periodically (typically at the end of the month) send the sales tax to the state.
The purpose of the certificate is to provide evidence of why sales tax was not collected on a transaction. Similar names for a resale certificate include reseller number, seller’s permit, exemption certificate, wholesale license, or reseller’s license. In order for the supplier to allow the tax-exempt purchase, the seller needs proof the buyer intends to resell the product by providing a valid resale certificate.
The sales tax exemption is only intended to be used for inventory that will be resold and not intended for the tax-free purchase of items used in normal business operations such as paper, pens, etc.
Getting Started
Before a business starts selling products or providing taxable services, it must first get a Kentucky Sales Tax Permit from the Kentucky Department of Revenue. The Sales Tax Permit is sometimes referred to as a seller’s permit, sales tax number, or sales tax license.
Is a Resale Certificate the same as a Sales Tax Permit?
The Sales Tax Permit and Resale Certificate are commonly thought of as the same thing, but they are actually two separate documents. The Sales Tax Permit allows a business to sell and collect sales tax from taxable products and services in the state, while the Resale Certificate allows the retailer to make tax-exempt purchases for products they intend to resell.
Related: How to get a Kentucky Sales Tax Permit
After registering, a sales tax number will be provided by the Department of Revenue. This number will be listed on the certificate.
Related: Do I need a business license?
How to fill out the Kentucky Resale Certificate
Filling out the Kentucky Resale Certificate (Form 51A105) is pretty straightforward but is critical for the seller to gather all the information.
If audited, the Kentucky Department of Revenue requires the seller to have a correctly filled out 51A105 Resale Certificate. Without it correctly filled out, the seller could end up owing sales taxes that should have been collected from the buyer in addition to penalties and interest.
Steps for filling out the 51A105 Kentucky Resale Certificate
Step 1 – Begin by downloading the Kentucky Resale Certificate Form 51A105
Step 2 – If the retailer is expected to be purchasing items frequently from the seller, instead of completing a resale certificate for every invoice, check the blanket box.
Step 3 – Identify the name, business address, and Sales & Use Tax Permit Number of the buyer
Step 4 – Identify the name and business address of the seller
Step 5 – Describe the products that will be purchased
Step 6 – The purchaser will sign, list their title, and date the certificate.
Kentucky Resale Certificate FAQs
How much does a Resale Certificate cost in Kentucky?
There is no cost for a Kentucky Resale Certificate.
Does a Kentucky Resale Certificate Expire?
The Department of Revenue recommends updating the resale certificate every four years.
How often is Kentucky sales tax due?
Most new businesses are set up to file and pay sales and use tax monthly, but depending on the amount of tax collected, your business may have a different filing frequency.
Where do I file the Kentucky Resale Certificate?
The resale certificate is kept on file by the seller and is not filed with the state.
Are sellers required to accept resale certificates?
Sellers are not required to accept resale certificates, however, most do. If the vendor doesn’t accept the certificate, the buyer will have to pay sales tax on the merchandise being purchased. In most cases, a credit is available when filing the Kentucky sales tax return.
What steps should a business take to accept a resale certificate?
When a business is presented with a resale certificate, the burden of proof is on the seller to verify that the buyer’s information is correct and to keep these records. Failing to verify this information may put the liability of paying Kentucky sales taxes on the seller.
Before accepting a resale certificate, a seller should:
– Review the resale certificate to make sure it is completely filled out.
– Sellers are also responsible for examining the certificate and evaluating whether the goods sold are reasonably consistent with the purchaser’s line of business. For example, if the buyer’s business is a car dealership, but they want to purchase office supplies tax-free, the seller should investigate further.
– Keep a file of resale certificates.
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