Ecommerce Sales Tax
Ecommerce Sales Tax. Nexus, Registration, and Filings, Handled.
Multi-state sales tax compliance for Shopify and DTC brands. Nexus studies, voluntary disclosure, registrations, and monthly filings across every state you sell into.
Ecommerce Sales Tax, Without the Fire Drills
Sales tax is the single most common source of unexpected liability we uncover in ecommerce diligence. Brands cross economic nexus in a dozen states without realizing it, marketplace collection creates a false sense of coverage, and a routine investor or acquirer diligence turns up six or seven figures of exposure that could have been avoided.
Sataurius ecommerce sales tax services close that gap. We run a nexus study, register you where required, set up filings, and stay in front of new state activity so compliance keeps up with growth.
What Triggers Sales Tax Nexus for an Ecommerce Brand
- Economic nexus: crossing the state threshold, typically $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions.
- Physical nexus: inventory stored in Amazon FBA warehouses, 3PLs, or pop-up locations.
- Affiliate and click-through nexus in a handful of states.
- Employees, contractors, or trade show presence in a state.
- Wholesale distribution into a state through your own logistics rather than a marketplace.
How Sataurius Handles Ecommerce Sales Tax
We run a nexus study across every state, quantify exposure and voluntary disclosure options, register you in states where collection is now required, configure Shopify and marketplace tax settings, and manage monthly or quarterly filings. Sales tax pairs directly with ecommerce accounting and the reporting layer inside ecommerce finance systems and ERP.
What's Included
Scope of Engagement
Multi-State Nexus Study
Full economic and physical nexus review across every U.S. state, with exposure quantified by year.
Voluntary Disclosure and Cleanup
Where historical exposure exists, we negotiate voluntary disclosure agreements to limit lookback and waive penalties.
State Registrations
Registration for every state where collection is required, coordinated with your legal entity and DBA structure.
Shopify and Marketplace Configuration
Correct tax settings inside Shopify, Amazon, and other channels, including marketplace-facilitator treatment.
Monthly and Quarterly Filings
Filing calendar, preparation, and remittance across every registered state, with audit-ready documentation.
Ongoing Nexus Monitoring
Quarterly review of thresholds as revenue and channel mix change, so new nexus is caught before it becomes an issue.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do ecommerce brands have to collect sales tax in every state?
No. Ecommerce brands are required to collect and remit sales tax only in states where they have nexus. Since South Dakota v. Wayfair (2018), most states enforce economic nexus thresholds, commonly $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions per year, in addition to any physical presence such as inventory in a 3PL or Amazon FBA warehouse.
What is economic nexus for ecommerce?
Economic nexus is a sales-based threshold that triggers a sales tax collection obligation in a state even without physical presence. Thresholds vary by state but are usually $100,000 in sales, 200 transactions, or both, measured over the prior or current calendar year.
Do marketplaces like Amazon and Shopify handle sales tax for me?
Amazon and other marketplace facilitators collect and remit sales tax on marketplace orders in most states. Shopify itself is not a marketplace facilitator, so brands selling on their own Shopify store remain responsible for collection, registration, and filing wherever they have nexus.
How much does ecommerce sales tax compliance cost?
Ecommerce sales tax services typically cost $150 to $500 per state per month, depending on volume, filing frequency, and whether registrations, notices, and audit response are included. Sataurius quotes each engagement based on your state footprint and channel mix.
What happens if we ignored sales tax nexus for years?
Uncollected sales tax becomes a liability that grows monthly with penalties and interest. Most states offer voluntary disclosure agreements that limit the lookback period and waive penalties. Sataurius runs a nexus study, quantifies exposure, and manages voluntary disclosure so the risk is closed cleanly before an audit or a diligence process finds it.
Do you handle international VAT and GST for DTC brands?
Yes. For brands shipping to the UK, EU, Canada, and Australia we advise on VAT and GST registration thresholds, IOSS, and marketplace collection rules, and coordinate with in-country filing partners.