• A sales tax generally is due when a seller sells something.  Its payable to the state or other jurisdictions allowed to tax sales.
• A use tax generally is due when a buyer purchases on the internet and/or out of state. It’s generally payable to the state where you operate.

If your state does not allow churches a sales and use tax exemption, then you must pay taxes on what you sell and also pay taxes on out of state purchases (often made through internet).  The exemption status of several of the states where TM churches are located are shown below:

• California does NOT generally exempt churches from sales and use tax.  Neither does Arizona.
• Nevada and Indiana DO offer certain exemptions to churches.

• We don’t need to pay sales tax when we sell items such as books or DVDs at our church.
• We don’t need to pay a use tax in our state when we purchase items out of state.

Let’s address both of these misconceptions.  In those states where no exemption is available, the church does need to pay sales tax when it sells merchandise. Food may or may not be exempt and must be checked on a case by case basis in your state. If the church paid sales tax to purchase the items, usually the tax paid can be a credit against the sales tax due.  Or a church can get a reseller’s license and avoid paying tax on items that will be resold.  It should also be noted that when a church asks for a donation for any size of donation including no donation (rather than “selling” an item), then it may be non-taxable.

If churches in your state are not exempt from use tax, you must pay use taxes on your out of state purchases (often these are internet purchases).  This means tracking your out of state purchases and the sales tax you did pay on those throughout the year.  If you paid out of state taxes, those are generally creditable against your state’s usage tax.

Your state will have a publication to assist you with the proper procedures.  For instance, in California, see the Board of Equalization’s Publication 18.  Try typing “sales and use tax exemptions church” into Google search with your state’s name to find the relevant Publication(s).  Not knowing will not excuse a church and fines/penalties may apply if sales and use taxes are not paid timely.

If you are in a state offering exemptions to sales and use tax, be sure to file all the necessary forms to qualify; these can generally be found online and/or referenced in a Publication of your state’s taxation entity.  Keep them on file at your church.