Buy inventory tax-free.
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A resale certificate is an official state-issued document that lets your business purchase goods intended for resale without paying sales tax upfront. You present it to suppliers and they remove sales tax from your invoice. You need one because misusing the exemption — or not having the certificate when you should — can expose you to back-tax assessments and penalties during an audit.

No. The exemption applies only to items you intend to resell or to raw materials incorporated into a finished product for sale. You cannot use it for office supplies, equipment for internal use, or personal purchases. Misuse can result in paying the back tax, interest, penalties, and in serious cases, fraud charges.

Yes. Each state has its own form, naming convention, and requirements. If you buy inventory from suppliers in multiple states, you'll need a valid certificate for each state where you source goods. Some states accept MTC (Multistate Tax Commission) exemption certificates from other states; we identify which apply in your situation.

Processing times vary by state: Texas is typically 3–5 business days, while California and New York take 1–2 weeks. Some states issue a certificate number immediately online; others require manual review. Kicker handles submission and tracks status for you, and we'll notify you as soon as it arrives.

Most states do not require periodic renewal — your certificate remains valid as long as your business is in good standing. A handful of states (e.g., some require re-registration after a period of inactivity) do require renewal. We flag any renewal requirement when we deliver your certificate and alert you before any deadline.

Typically: legal business name, principal business address, EIN (Federal Tax ID), business entity type (LLC, Corp, sole proprietor), and a description of the products you sell and intend to resell. Some states also ask for an estimate of monthly sales volume. Our intake form walks you through exactly what each state needs.

Yes. You do not need to have made sales yet. You need a registered business entity and an EIN — then you can apply. Getting your certificate before your first supplier order means you're immediately buying at tax-exempt wholesale prices from day one.

Improper use creates liability for the back sales tax, plus interest from the date of purchase, plus penalties that can reach 25–50% of the tax owed depending on the state. Intentional misuse can be treated as fraud. Our usage-instructions guide — included with every certificate — spells out exactly what qualifies.

The Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) Uniform Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate is a single document accepted by many — but not all — states in lieu of their own state form. As of 2024, roughly 38 states honor it to varying degrees; states including California, Florida, and New York have their own required forms or impose conditions on MTC use. We identify whether MTC filing is accepted in each of your target states, and where it isn't, we file the correct state-specific application instead. Our Multi-State and Portfolio plans cover this automatically.

First, confirm the supplier is registered in the state you're claiming the exemption in — out-of-state suppliers sometimes incorrectly apply their home state's rules. Second, check that the certificate is fully completed and signed; a missing field is the most common rejection reason. If the supplier still refuses, we can provide a letter on our letterhead confirming the certificate is validly issued, and connect you with our compliance team to assist. Note: a supplier's refusal to accept a valid certificate does not extinguish your right to the exemption — you can pay the tax and file for a refund with supporting documentation.