How do I determine if I have sales tax nexus?

Sales tax nexus means your business has enough of a connection to a state that the state can require you to collect and remit sales tax. There are two types that matter: physical presence nexus and economic nexus. You need to evaluate both because you could have obligations in states where you’ve never physically operated.

Physical presence nexus is the traditional standard. If your business has an office, warehouse, employees, inventory, or even independent sales reps operating in a state, you likely have nexus there. For a business based in Riverview or anywhere in the Tampa Bay area, having a Florida location means you have physical nexus in Florida and need to collect sales tax on taxable goods and services sold here.

Economic nexus is the newer standard that came from the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair. That decision allows states to require sales tax collection based purely on sales volume, with no physical presence required. Most states set their thresholds around $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions per year, though every state has its own rules. Florida’s economic nexus threshold is $100,000 in taxable remote sales during the prior calendar year.

To figure out where you have nexus, start by listing every state where you have any physical presence. Then look at where your customers are and how much revenue you’re generating in each state. If you sell products online or provide taxable services across state lines, you may be hitting economic nexus thresholds without realizing it.

Several common situations catch business owners off guard. Hiring a remote employee in another state can create nexus there. Storing inventory in an Amazon fulfillment center in a state you’ve never visited creates nexus. Attending trade shows regularly in the same state can trigger it. Using a drop-shipper based in another state can as well. These are easy to overlook, but each one can create a real sales tax obligation.

Once you identify where you have nexus, you need to register for a sales tax permit in that state, collect the correct rate from customers, and file returns on schedule. Selling without collecting when you should have been can lead to back taxes, penalties, and interest that add up fast. States are increasingly sharing data and identifying businesses that should be collecting but aren’t, especially those selling through online marketplaces.

Florida has its own quirks too. The state sales tax rate is 6%, but most counties add a discretionary surtax that varies by location. Hillsborough County’s combined rate is different from Manatee or Polk County’s rate. Getting the rate wrong on every transaction creates problems that compound over months and years. Sales tax management requires staying on top of rate changes and filing deadlines in every state where you have nexus.

If you sell only locally and only in Florida, the analysis is straightforward. But if you sell online, have customers in multiple states, or your business is growing into new markets, nexus determination gets complicated quickly. A business tax preparation professional can review your specific situation, identify where you have obligations, and help you get compliant before a state reaches out to you first. The cost of getting it right upfront is far less than cleaning up years of uncollected sales tax after the fact.