How to Fill Out A Sales Tax Return

If your the owner of a business or even self employed with a job that provides goods and services you're going to need to know how to fill out a Sales Tax Return (Form ST-16). The following article will take you step by step through the process of filling out a sales tax return.

Instructions

1. On line one you will need to fill out your gross sales for the previous month. Gross sales are the amount of your sales before tax has been taken out.

   1. Gross Sales/Receipts__________500.00____

2. On line two you will need to put down the amount of merchandise consumed by you. This is the cost of any merchandise that you have taken for your own use. If this does not apply just put 0.

   2. Merchandise consumed ____________0.00________

3. On line 3 you will need to put down any deductions. Deductions are sales that will not be charged sales tax such as sales to non-profit organizations or to other businesses that are tax exempt.

   3. Deductions __________50.00__________

4. on line four you will add lines one and two and then subtract line 3. This is your net sales and you will enter that amount on line four.

   4.Net Sales _________450.00______

5. On line five you will need to multiply line four by the sales tax rate percentage in your county. And Then enter it on line five, for example my sales tax rate is 6.3 % so I would then take 450.00 X 6.3% = 28.35

   5. Net Tax _________28.35_________

6. On line six you would enter your credit memo. Such as if you previously overpaid your taxes you would enter that amount here.

   6. Credit Memo __________0.00_____

7. On Step seven you will need to subtract line six from line five and enter this amount on line seven.

   7. Subtotal ____________28.35________

8. Line eight is where you would add on the penalty such as you might have from a previously late return.

   8.__________0.00________

9. Line nine is where you would add on the interest owed from a previous late payment.

   9.____________0.00_______

10. Line ten is where you would add the total due.

    10. Total Due ___________28.35_____________

11. Don't forget to sign and date the back of your return before mailing.
    Also if you had any deductions they will need to be entered on the back of your return.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need help finding tax forms check out the resources section of this article for a link.

• To avoid penalties and interest be sure to get it in the mail by the 25th.

Resources

• State Tax Forms