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Sales Tax for Mid Atlantic States

Posted by Diane Wright on October 25, 2010 at 11:16am in Business of Art Fairs

 Hi,

  I live in Pittsburgh, Pa and I do most of my shows in PA and OH and have sales tax # in both those states. I file quarterly in Pa and 2x a year in OH.  I am now wanting to apply to shows a little farther away but before I do I need to know the nuts and bolts of sales tax filing for those states.  I think I  would like to apply to  some shows in New York, New Jersey, and Maryland.  If accepted, do I need to obtain a sales tax # in each of those states and file on a regular basis or do any of those states make accomodations for transient vendors?   I know some states allow transient vendors to file a form and pay the tax immediatly after the show rather than obtaining and maintaining a sales tax #.   Also, what are the costs to obtain the license?  I heard Connecticut is a very expensive state in which to get a sales tax license if you are only doing 1-2 shows a year there.  Any help is greatly appreciated as I begin to set my sights on next year's shows.  Thanks

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Replies

  • Geoff Coe October 27, 2010 at 12:25pm
    Can only speak for NJ. It's free to set up your account (and you can do it online). I file a quarterly report online, which took only 10 minutes the very first time I used it. (Contrast that with FL, whose insane "instructions" and form design still leaving me scratching my head after nearly 4 years of quarterly filings.)

    They have no "transient vendor" designation, so you must file quarterly, even if you did no biz in the state for the quarter... but it's so fast to file the report that the only effort is in remembering to file. :-)
    http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/
    • Diane Wright > Geoff Coe October 27, 2010 at 12:38pm
      Sounds good. I'll just remember to file when I file my PA and OH taxes. What shows do you do in New Jersey. I'm thinking of the Rose Squared shows and the Paragon shows. Are there any others that I should be considering? I do jewelry - metal and beadweaving.
      • Geoff Coe > Diane Wright October 27, 2010 at 12:56pm
        I did a small show in Cape May NJ at the end of September. I live in Florida the rest of the year. I wouldn't recommend the Cape May show unless you love spending time on the Jersey shore in the fall and want to offset some of your vacation expenses.
  • Chris Hoyt October 26, 2010 at 7:15am
    Michael is right about Jersey. It's no big deal. New York is a little different. It's just as easy to get a cert, but you must remember to find out the tax rate at every show you do. Because each county has a different rate added onto the State tax. I do a show in Troy, NY and the tax is 8%. I can go to the next county and the tax is 7% less than one mile away.

    Connecticut is broke like every other state, so yes, the cert is $100.

    What shows are you considering?
    • Diane Wright > Chris Hoyt October 26, 2010 at 9:17am
      I think I will avoid Connecticut right now. PA and OH also have different tax rates depending where you are. I was looking at the Rose Squared shows in Westfield and Verona, New Jersey as well as some Paragon Shows in New Jersey and New York. I also am considering applying to Chatauqua (talk about a long shot) Do you have any suggestions? I sell jewelry (that dirty word) so all shows are a long shot and I am looking at shows that can support some higher price points than I am finding in the shows I've been doing in Western PA.
  • R. Michael Wommack October 25, 2010 at 11:47am
    Maryland has a one time form for each show an out of state artist does. I think they keep track of the shows and send you a form afterward. Virginia has the same system, but the form is handed out at the show, or you can get it online.
    New Jersey makes you get a sales tax license, and file quarterly. You can do it online and it is pretty easy. Connecticut does the same thing, filing quarterly and all, but since I haven't done a show there in 2 years, they informed me I only have to file once a year.
    I don't know about New York, but I did look into it and it looks like a real pain.
    • Diane Wright > R. Michael Wommack October 25, 2010 at 11:59am
      Thanks, that is a help
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