How To Get An Oklahoma Resale Certificate [2023 Guide]
A resale certificate is an important document that allows businesses to purchase merchandise for resale without paying sales tax. This certificate is also sometimes called a “Sales Tax Exemption Certificate,” a “Reseller’s license,” or a “Certificate of Resale.”
In order to obtain one, the retailer will need to provide an Oklahoma Resale Certificate to their vendor.
Learn more about what an Oklahoma resale certificate is used for, 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 state sales tax will still be paid, but instead of the retailer paying 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 Oklahoma Tax Commission.
For instance, let’s consider a sporting goods store in Oklahoma. With a valid resale certificate, the retailer can acquire sports equipment from manufacturers without paying sales tax on the transaction. When a retail customer purchases a sports item, such as a basketball or a tennis racket, the retailer (in this case, the sporting goods store) will include the applicable sales tax based on the full price of the item. The retailer collects the sales tax from all their transactions and periodically, typically at the end of each month, remits the accumulated 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 an Oklahoma Sales Tax Permit from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. 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 register for an Oklahoma Sales Tax Permit
After registering, a sales tax number will be provided by the Tax Commission. This number will be listed on the Resale Certificate.
How to Obtain an Oklahoma Resale Certificate
Filling out the certificate is pretty straightforward, but is critical for the seller to gather all the information.
If audited, the Oklahoma Tax Commission requires the seller to have a correctly filled out 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 Uniform Sales & Use Tax Certificate
Step 1 – Begin by downloading the Uniform Sales Tax Exemption Certificate
Step 2 – Identify the name and business address of the seller
Step 3 – Identify the name and business address of the buyer
Step 4 – Check whether the buyer is engaged as a registered wholesaler, retailer, manufacturer, seller, or lessor
Step 5 – Provide a description of the buyer’s business
Step 6 – Describe the tangible property or taxable services that will be purchased from the seller
Step 7 – Include the Oklahoma Sales Tax Permit Number
Step 8 – The purchaser will certify the property being purchased is for resale and sign and date the certificate.
A Resale Certificate can also be generated by the buyer or seller, provided the certificate contains the required information as outlined in Oklahoma Rule 710:65-3-33, which includes:
- The name and address of the customer
- The character of the transaction
- The date
- The amount of gross receipts or gross proceeds
- Any other information that may be necessary to establish the nontaxable character of such transactions under the Sales Tax Code.
Instead of making a form, the Uniform Resale Certificate can be used. This is a multi-jurisdiction form which means it can be used as a Resale Certificate in any of the states listed on the form.
Oklahoma Resale Certificate FAQs
How much does a Resale Certificate cost in Oklahoma?
There is no cost for a Certificate of Exemption in Oklahoma.
Does the Uniform Resale Certificate Expire?
The Uniform Resale Certificate does not expire.
Where do I file the Oklahoma Resale Certificate?
The resale certificate is kept on file by the seller and is not filed with the state.
How often is Oklahoma 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 semi-annual filing frequency instead.
Are sellers required to accept resale certificates?
Sellers are not required to accept resale certificates for tax exempt purchases, 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 will be provided when filing their Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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.
– Verify the purchaser’s Oklahoma sales tax permit is valid and active by visiting the Tax Commission’s Permit Lookup database.
– 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 are wanting to purchase office supplies tax-free, the seller should investigate further.
– Keep a file of resale certificates.
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