How To Get A Wyoming Certificate Of Exemption [Resale Certificate]

When a business purchases inventory to resell, it can do so without paying sales tax.  In order to do so, the retailer will need to provide a Wyoming Certificate of Exemption (often referred to as a Resale Certificate) to their vendor. 

Learn more about what a Certificate of Exemption is, how to get one, and more.

What is a Certificate of Exemption?

When retailers purchase products to resell, they often don’t pay state 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 Wyoming Department of Revenue.

For instance, when a specialty candle shop in Wyoming procures a selection of scented candles to sell in their establishment, by having a resale certificate, the shop owner doesn’t pay sales tax on this acquisition. The sales tax becomes relevant when a retail customer purchases the scented candle from the store. At this point, the retailer applies the sales tax to the full cost of the candle.

The specialty candle shop aggregates the sales tax from all their transactions over a specified period, typically at the end of the month. After the month wraps up, the shop transmits this collected sales tax to the state. This system effectively transitions the responsibility of paying the sales tax from the retailer to the retail customer, with the retailer serving as an intermediary, gathering and sending the tax to the state.

This system allows the bookstore to pass the cost of the sales tax onto the final consumer, rather than absorbing it as part of their operational expenses. It also ensures that the state collects the appropriate amount of sales tax on items sold within 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, they must first get a Wyoming Sales Tax License from the Wyoming Department of Revenue. The Sales Tax License is sometimes referred to as a seller’s permit, sales tax number, or sales tax license.

Steps for filling out the SSTGB Form F0003 Wyoming Certificate of Exemption

Step 1 – Begin by downloading the Wyoming Certificate of Exemption SSTGB Form F0003 

Step 2 – Indicate whether the Multistate Supplemental form is being attached.  This is the second page of the exemption form.  Several states joined together under the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement to accept one resale form to make it easier for merchants to register.

Step 3 – Check whether the certificate is for a single purchase. Otherwise, the form is considered a blanket certificate which allows a buyer to purchase multiple times from a vendor without having to file a separate certificate.

Step 4 – Include the name, address, and State Tax ID Number.  If there is no State Tax ID Number, enter the purchaser’s FEIN and Driver’s license number.

Step 5 – Enter the name and address of the seller.

Step 6 – Check the box that corresponds closest to the type of business the buyer is in.

Step 7 – Indicate the reason for exemption.  Most retailers are going to check box G for Resale. 

Step 8 – The purchaser will certify the property being purchased is for resale, including their title, phone number, and email address, then sign and date the certificate. 

Wyoming Certificate Of Exemption FAQs