How to Obtain My Sales Tax License in Texas

Learn how to apply for and obtain the sales tax permit for your Texas business.

If your business sells products or services in the state of Texas, then you are required to obtain a sales-tax license. Obtaining a sales-tax permit is free. A sales-tax permit is used when filing sales-tax forms and paying the amount of sales tax you owe the state. When you charge customers a sales tax on the products and services they purchase from you, the tax you collect is then paid from your business to the state Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Instructions

1. Obtain the sales-tax permit application by calling the office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts at 800-252-5555 or downloading the form from the website. You can also obtain an application by visiting one of the field offices of the state comptroller.

2. Complete the sales-tax application form. After completing the application, be sure to sign it, and date the form, at the bottom of the application.

3. Submit the sales-tax application form. You can mail the completed form to Comptroller of Public Accounts, 111 E. 17th Street, Austin, TX 78774. You can also turn in the application in person by visiting one of the local field offices during normal business hours.

Tips & Warnings

• It can take up to four weeks from the time you submit the application to receive the sales tax number and permit in the mail. You do not have to have a federal tax identification number in order to apply for your sales tax permit.

• If the business is registered as a sole proprietorship, you do not have to complete the first page of the sales-tax permit application. Sole proprietors can skip directly to the second page of the application and begin filling in the answers to the questions starting with question 10.

• If the business entity is not a sole proprietor, complete the first page of the application, but skip to question 15 on the second page. This is because questions 10 through 15 only pertain to sole proprietorships.

• If you submit an incomplete application, this can cause a delay in your application being processed and receiving your sales-tax permit.

References

• Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: How to Obtain a Sales Tax Permit

Resources

• Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: Sales Tax Permit Application
• Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: Field Office Listing