Staunton, VA
Laptop glowing at the kitchen table, a stack of padded mailers, and the happy ping of a new order arriving.
Short answer: Business Licenses Needed: start with the structure (an LLC for most owners), then the Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Registration, a federal tax ID number (EIN) and a local business license.
Virginia calls its seller's permit the Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Registration. Suppliers selling to you tax-free will ask for a Form ST-10 Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption. Suppliers generally accept a resale certificate only from a buyer registered for sales tax, so even a business that mostly buys and sells wholesale usually registers. In-state buyers using Form ST-10 generally need a Virginia registration; out-of-state buyers can cite their home-state number. Out-of-state buyers do not need a Virginia registration to give a valid Virginia resale certificate. Online sellers buy inventory from suppliers without paying sales tax by handing over a resale certificate, since the goods will be resold to customers.
Tip: Keep a spreadsheet of every supplier's resale paperwork from day one; future you, in tax season, will send a thank-you note.
Industry code: NAICS 453998 (All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers (except Tobacco Stores)), 459999 under the 2022 update
Get your Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Registration filed · Start your LLC, DBA and EIN · Business licenses
Joseph · Frazier Direct · Las Vegas, NV
Joseph wrote: “At Frazier Direct we are an online retail business offering a wide variety of products. We ship to all 50 states from our location in sunny Las Vegas, NV.”
Hi Joseph, Nevada's seller's permit is the one that matters for an online retailer shipping from Las Vegas. Suppliers will take Nevada's resale certificate, which requires the buyer to hold a seller's permit, for tax-free inventory. Shipping to all 50 states means other states' sales thresholds may apply to you, so watch your numbers by state. Nevada has no state income tax on wages, so employer registration there is for unemployment insurance.
Short answer: For an online retail business in Las Vegas, Nevada, the essentials are the seller's permit, a federal tax ID number (EIN) and a local business license, plus an LLC or other structure.
Nevada calls its seller's permit the seller's permit. Suppliers selling to you tax-free will ask for a Nevada resale certificate (buyer must hold a seller's permit). Nevada requires businesses selling tangible goods in the state to register, and a seller's permit is a prerequisite for issuing resale certificates. Nevada also has a Commerce Tax on businesses with large Nevada gross revenue, which can reach wholesalers.
Industry code: NAICS 459999 (All Other Miscellaneous Retailers), 454110 under the 2017 codes
Get your seller's permit filed · Start your LLC, DBA and EIN · Business licenses
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All Businesses Need a Staunton Business License & a Trade Business Name ( Augusta County Trade Business Name required if using a trade name).
Retailers / Wholesalers, Need a Reseller Tax ID, & a Business License.
Employers Need a Federal Tax Id Number (EIN), a VA State Tax Id ( State EIN), & a Business License.
Corporations, & LLC Need a Federal Tax Id Number (EIN)& a Business License.
Partnerships Need a Federal Tax Id Number (EIN) & a Trade Business Name, but also need a Business License.
Sole Proprietors May Use a Federal Tax Id Number as a VA Business Tax ID but also need a Business License.
Instead of filing a Trade Business Name, You Can Incorporate in VA or form a(n) VA LLC & You Will Not Need To File A DBA
The licenses below are required for all businesses including internet as well as home and businesses like Etsy etc.
1. Ecommerce Nearly all businesses need a(n) , Staunton business tax registration.
2. Ecommerce All Businesses that use a business name to trade that is other than the surname and first name of a sole proprietor or a fictitious business name other than the LLC or Corporation legal name need a(n) Augusta County DBA assumed business name certificate.
3. In VA a business tax ID registration (occupationall business license ) and a DBA Doing Business As Fictious Business Name are ncessary for most businesses but if your business sells any taxable items, you will need a sales tax ID number. ( A.K.A VAseller's permit, state id, wholesale, resale, reseller certificate).
4. If you are thinking of hiring help, you will need a tax ID called a state EIN and an IRS tax ID number called an EIN Employer ID Number. I.e., a VA Federal Tax ID Number and a(n) VA State Employer Tax Number.
5. Instead of filing a fictitious business name DBA Filing in Staunton, Incorporate in VA or form a(n) LLC.