How to get a Resale Certificate in South Carolina
A resale certificate is a document that allows a business to buy merchandise that will be resold without paying sales tax. In order to obtain the certificate, the retailer will need to provide a South Carolina Resale Certificate to their vendor.Â
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 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina Retail License from the South Carolina Department of Revenue. The Retail License is sometimes referred to as a seller’s permit, sales tax number, or sales tax license.
Is a Resale Certificate the same as a Retail License?
The Retail License and Resale Certificate are commonly thought of as the same thing, but they are actually two separate documents. The Retail License 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:Â How to register for a South Carolina Retail License
After registering, a retail license number will be provided by the Department of Revenue. This number will be listed on the Resale Certificate.
How to fill out the South Carolina Resale Certificate – Form ST-8A
Filling out Form ST-8A is pretty straightforward but is critical for the seller to gather all the information.
If audited, the South Carolina Department of Revenue requires the seller to have a correctly filled out Form ST-8A 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 ST-8A South Carolina Resale Certificate
Step 1 – Begin by downloading the South Carolina Resale Certificate Form ST-8AÂ
Step 2 – Identify the name and business address of the seller
Step 3 – Include the kind of business the purchaser is engaged in
Step 4 – Describe the items that are sold, leased, or rented from the purchaser
Step 5 – Identify the name and business address of the buyer
Step 6 – Enter the purchaser’s South Carolina Retail License Number
Step 7 – The purchaser will certify the property being purchased is for resale, then include their name and title and sign and date the certificate.Â
ST-8A Resale Certificate Fillable Form
How much does a Resale Certificate cost in South Carolina?
There is no cost for a Certificate of Exemption in South Carolina.
Does a South Carolina Resale Certificate Expire?
South Carolina Resale Certificates do not expire as long as the purchaser’s business is in operation.
Where do I file the South Carolina sales tax exemption 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, they will be able to get a credit for the sales taxes when filing their South Carolina sales tax return.Â
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 South Carolina 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.Â
– Verify the purchaser’s South Carolina Retail License is valid and active by calling the Department of Revenue at 844-898-8542, option 2, then option 3.
– 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 in case of audit.Â
