New York resale certificate and sales tax for resellers
A summary of what the sources listed on this page say about New York: its permit and resale certificate, buying inventory for resale, and refunds of sales tax paid on inventory. General information only.
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Last reviewed
Every fact on this page comes from the sources listed below, as they read on the review date. Where a source did not say something, we leave it out. Sources can change after that date.
New York quick facts
What the sources listed below say. Rules change, and how they apply depends on the facts of each case.
- State base sales tax rate
- 4.00%[6]
- Resale certificate
- Form ST-120 (Resale Certificate)[6]
- Certificate expiry (as listed)
- No expiry listed in the source[6]
- Where to apply
- State application page[2]
- Certificate form
- State certificate form[1]
Keep each purchase receipt linked to the items it covers. Get the app
What the state says about its permit and resale certificate
The state calls the registration associated with buying for resale and collecting tax a Certificate of Authority (sales tax vendor registration).[23] The state says it offers an online application.[23] State application page.[2]
The resale certificate the state lists is Form ST-120 (Resale Certificate). The source cited lists no expiry.[6] The state's certificate form asks for a permit or registration number.[1] State certificate form.[1]
What the state says about buying inventory for resale
Out-of-state buyers
Part 2 of ST-120 is for purchasers not registered in New York, who give their home-state sales tax or VAT registration number, for goods delivered to their customer or a fulfillment provider in New York or resold from outside New York.[1]
Other points the sources mention
- New York says a Certificate of Authority application is due at least 20 days before a business makes taxable sales, provides taxable services, or issues or accepts exemption documents, and that the certificate is displayed in plain view, or attached to the cart, stand or truck if there is no regular place of business.[3]
- A seller is protected if it accepts ST-120 in good faith and holds it within 90 days of the transaction. The seller keeps it at least three years after the due date of the related return.[1]
- ST-120 is either single-use or blanket. The form instructions say temporary vendors (taxable sales in no more than two consecutive quarters in any 12-month period) issue single-use certificates.[1]
- New York defines a casual sale as an occasional taxable sale from a person's home by someone not in business. It needs no registration, but if the special garage sale rules are not met the seller collects the tax and sends it with Form ST-131.[4]
What the state says about refunds of sales tax paid on inventory
Some states let a purchaser request a refund of sales tax paid on items bought for resale, and some direct the request to the seller. Whether and how that applies depends on the facts of each purchase. This section reports what the sources say for New York. According to the state's information, a purchaser who paid sales tax to a seller can file the refund claim directly.[7]
- Who files, per the state
- Purchaser files directly, per the state[7]
- Refund form named by the state
- Form AU-11 (Application for Credit or Refund of Sales or Use Tax)[7]
- How the state says to submit
- Paper Form AU-11 for individuals; businesses can submit it online through a Business Online Services account[7]
- Time limit the state describes
- Generally 3 years[7]
The Tax Department says the application is generally filed within three years from the date the tax was payable to the Tax Department, or two years from the date the tax was paid, whichever is later. It describes attaching legible copies of supporting documents such as invoices, receipts and proof of payment of tax.[7]
Illustration: the New York state base rate applied to an amount you enter
Enter an amount to see an illustration.
Illustration only. It applies the 4.00% state base rate to the amount entered, and assumes that amount is before tax. It leaves out local taxes, exemptions and every other rule, which can change the result. It is an estimate for illustration, not a tax calculation or a prediction of any amount owed, deductible or refundable.
Not tax advice. Last reviewed . Confirm with the state agency or a qualified tax professional. Report an error
Keep each purchase receipt linked to the items it covers
Strooply is an app for eBay resellers that identifies items from photos, shows live comps and sold-price estimates, drafts eBay listings for your review, and tracks costs and profit.
Receipt scanning, on Pro and Team plans, links each purchase receipt to the items it covers, with the tax shown on the receipt. It can misread prices, dates or line items.
Strooply is record-keeping software. It does not prepare or file tax returns, refund claims, or other filings, it is not a tax preparer, and its figures are estimates to check against your own records.
A free plan is available.
Common questions and what the sources say
Do I need a Certificate of Authority to sell on eBay in New York?
New York says a seller of taxable items registers and collects sales tax, even when selling from home, and that this applies to items sold on a regular basis through online auctions or other websites. A marketplace provider's duty to collect New York sales tax on sales it facilitates applies whether or not the marketplace seller is required to register.[45]
How do I get a resale certificate in New York?
New York's steps are registering as a sales tax vendor through New York Business Express to get a Certificate of Authority, then completing Form ST-120, with the valid sales tax identification number in Part 1, and giving it to the supplier. The state says the Certificate of Authority application is due at least 20 days before a business issues or accepts exemption documents.[123]
What is the difference between a single-use and a blanket ST-120?
A blanket certificate covers all purchases of the same general type of property or service bought for resale. If neither box is marked the certificate is treated as single-use, and temporary vendors may not issue a blanket certificate. The form instructions have the seller hold the certificate within 90 days of the transaction and keep it at least three years after the due date of the related return.[1]
Is sales tax charged at a New York garage sale?
According to New York's bulletin, generally no, if all conditions are met: neither the seller nor a household member is in a trade or business selling similar items, the sale runs three days or less in a calendar year, sales are not expected to exceed $600, and buyers pick up the items at the seller's home. If an item is delivered or mailed to a New York address, the seller collects the tax. These exemptions do not apply to sales through an auctioneer or other third party, or to a sale held to liquidate an estate.[4]
Not tax advice. Last reviewed . Confirm with the state agency or a qualified tax professional. Report an error
Where these facts come from
Each number in square brackets on this page matches an entry below. Check a source itself for its current wording.
- NY Tax Department: Form ST-120 Resale Certificate, www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/current_forms/st/st120_fill_in.pdf
- NY Tax Department: Register as a sales tax vendor, www.tax.ny.gov/bus/st/register.htm
- NY Tax Department: Apply for a Certificate of Authority, www.tax.ny.gov/e-services/elcoa/
- NY Tax Department: TB-ST-807 Sales From Your Home, www.tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/tg_bulletins/st/sales_from_your_home.htm
- NY Tax Department: Sales tax requirements for marketplace providers, www.tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/publications/sales/marketplace.htm
- NY Dept. of Taxation and Finance, rates, certificate and refund information, www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/current_forms/st/au11i.pdf
- Form AU-11 (Application for Credit or Refund of Sales or Use Tax), state refund form, www.tax.ny.gov/bus/ads/au11.htm