Online sellers
Tax, sales tax and bookkeeping for people who sell through marketplaces or their own store, including sellers based outside the US.
22 guides in this topic
- Do you need an LLC to sell on Amazon3 minute readAmazon does not require an LLC. What it does ask sellers for, what an LLC changes for tax and liability, and when forming one before selling makes sense.
- Amazon FBA taxes: everything a seller has to file4 minute readEvery tax an Amazon FBA seller deals with: income and self-employment tax, Form 1099-K, sales tax, inventory nexus and state franchise taxes.
- eBay seller taxes: income tax, 1099-K and sales tax2 minute readHow eBay sellers are taxed: when eBay issues a 1099-K, business sellers vs selling personal items, reporting sales and fees, and sales tax that eBay collects.
- Shopify sales tax: how to set it up properly2 minute readHow to set up sales tax on Shopify: why the store owner is responsible, registering first, adding registrations, categories, exemptions and filing.
- Etsy seller taxes2 minute readHow Etsy sellers are taxed: hobby or business, working out profit on handmade goods, Etsy fees, Form 1099-K, and the sales tax that Etsy collects for you.
- Dropshipping taxes: who collects sales tax and who pays income tax3 minute readHow dropshipping is taxed: who collects sales tax in a three-party sale, resale certificates, nexus, income tax on profit, and non-US sellers.
- Resale certificates: buying inventory without paying sales tax2 minute readWhat a resale certificate is, who can use one, the state and multistate forms, what sellers must check and keep, and the penalties for misuse.
- Marketplace facilitator laws: when the platform collects for you2 minute readWhat marketplace facilitator laws are, which platforms they cover, what the marketplace collects for you, and what stays your responsibility.
- Inventory and cost of goods sold for online sellers2 minute readHow online sellers work out cost of goods sold: the formula, what goes into inventory cost, counting stock, FIFO and other methods, losses and reimbursements.
- Bookkeeping for Amazon sellers: reading your settlement reports2 minute readHow Amazon sellers keep books from settlement reports: what each line means, recording sales and fees, and reconciling payouts to the bank.
- Selling on Amazon US from outside the US2 minute readHow non-residents sell on Amazon US: foreign seller or US LLC, tax forms, sales tax, US income tax and FBA inventory, importing, and filings.
- Do online sellers need a business license or seller's permit2 minute readWhether online sellers need a seller's permit or business license: the difference between them, when each applies, marketplace-only sellers, and local licenses.
- Bookkeeping for eBay sellers3 minute readHow to keep books for an eBay business: gross sales, eBay fees, shipping labels, promoted listings, refunds and inventory, and reconciling payouts.
- Bookkeeping for Shopify stores3 minute readHow to keep books for a Shopify store: gross sales, discounts, refunds, sales tax you remit, fees, apps, gift cards and payout reconciliation.
- Walmart Marketplace: the tax ID and documents sellers need3 minute readWhat Walmart Marketplace sellers need for tax and onboarding: a business tax ID, W-9 or W-8, documents, sales tax collection and Form 1099-K.
- TikTok Shop seller taxes3 minute readHow TikTok Shop sellers are taxed: sales tax collected by TikTok, Form 1099-K, fees and affiliate commissions, samples to creators, and profit.
- Dropshipping profit tracking: fees, refunds and true margin3 minute readHow to track dropshipping profit: product and supplier shipping, payment and platform fees, ads per order, refunds, with a per-order example.
- Print on demand taxes1 minute readHow print on demand sellers are taxed: income and cost of goods sold, sales tax on your sales and the provider's charges, and resale certificates.
- Importing goods to sell in the US: duties, customs and your books3 minute readHow e-commerce sellers import goods into the US: the end of the $800 de minimis exemption, importer of record, duties, brokers and landed cost.
- Returns, refunds and chargebacks: how to record them2 minute readHow to record customer refunds, returns, chargebacks and their fees: reducing sales, returning stock to inventory, write-offs and sales tax.
- Taxes for retail and online arbitrage sellers3 minute readHow retail and online arbitrage sellers are taxed: cost of goods sold, sales tax on purchases and resale certificates, mileage and receipts.
- Sales tax for Amazon FBA sellers: where your inventory creates nexus8 minute readAmazon collects sales tax on marketplace orders, but FBA stock can still create nexus. What that means, with the California and Texas rules.