eCommerce

B2B Sales Tax Integration for Business-to-Business eCommerce

Updated February 23  |  6 min read
Key Takeaways
  • Sales tax integration ensures accurate and automated tax calculations for complex pricing structures and large order volumes, reducing errors and ensuring sales tax compliance.
  • B2B businesses often operate across multiple jurisdictions, and sales tax integration facilitates real-time tax rate updates and automatic tax determination based on customer location, simplifying the complexities of tax regulations.
  • This seamless integration enhances the customer experience by providing transparent and upfront pricing, building trust, and minimizing surprises.
  • Ultimately, integrating sales tax software streamlines operations, mitigates sales tax compliance risks, and fosters smoother B2B transactions to collect sales tax.

Collecting Sales Tax with Back-End B2B Integrations

B2B companies often don't worry much about collecting sales taxes because they usually sell products for resale, so they usually aren't required to collect sales tax. There's also the global scope of eCommerce B2B sales that complicates the sales tax picture. However, things aren't that simple anymore.

The constantly changing sales tax picture, which was often ignored in the earlier days of Internet sales, has evolved into a major source of income for tax jurisdictions throughout the world. The more that online sales increase, the more aggressively tax authorities are moving to close Internet-sales loopholes and ensure sales and use tax compliance.

A Sales Tax Primer on Website Sales

The retail sale and leasing of goods are generally always taxable in every state except the five that don't have state sales taxes: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska and Montana grant taxing authority to localities, so local taxes might apply. In general, B2B products sold for resale aren't taxable, but B2B equipment and products used in business are subject to applicable sales tax. In some states, sales rates can vary among cities and localities within each state.

Origin-based tax states—such as Tennessee—base their taxes on the city where products are sold, but Tennessee and most states switch to a destination-based model for out-of-state companies that sell products within the state. Called use taxes, these assessments on out-of-state internet sellers mirror the rates charged for sales taxes in the relevant states.

All these complicated taxing guidelines create an accounting and billing nightmare, which is why so many B2B companies have just ignored collecting taxes in the past because the bulk of their sales were nontaxable on resale items. However, eCommerce companies—both wholesale and retail—can expect greater sales tax compliance efforts as states crack down on this source of revenue.

Now that companies can easily integrate complex tax calculators into their B2B eCommerce platforms or accounting software, they have little excuse to plead ignorance of the law or undue hardship in calculating taxes correctly. States are beginning to step up enforcement efforts by targeting larger companies, but small-to-medium-sized businesses will quickly follow. Getting websites customized to make these tax calculations is simply sound advice and good business practice.

Origin-based sales taxes depend on whether a particular company has any kind of legal presence within the state such as a physical address, employees who work for the company, ownership of intellectual property registered in the state, and other precise legal definitions, which can actually vary slightly state-by-state.

Some states charge taxes on the sale of services while others don't, and many charge service taxes at different rates than for physical products. Other sales tax can go by different terms such as RTA tax, stadium taxes, or local tax surcharges, and many localities impose education taxes that benefit local school districts.

To Collect or Not to Collect

Many B2B companies have never collected sales tax while others collect it only if they have a physical location and business customers who regularly buy equipment, supplies, and products used in business or offices. Although companies from out-of-state can collect taxes for other states as required by law, there has been no legal mandate to do so except within the states where companies operate. That may soon change because of The Marketplace Fairness Act, which is pending in Congress in 2016.

The new law would make collecting sales taxes mandatory in the 45 states that have sales tax. B2C and B2B companies would be legally required to collect these taxes according to each state sales tax rates, and standard laws, fines, and penalties would apply in cases of noncompliance. States can treat cases where companies collect taxes but fail to forward them to the tax authorities as embezzlement.

Deciding whether B2B companies should collect taxes could take up pages without coming to any hard-and-fast conclusions. The best answer depends on what B2B companies sell, how much of their inventory is generally for resale, and how much of what they sell is strictly used in business operations. The short answer is that if a business operates within a state, then it must collect sales tax for items that aren't commonly resold. It seems likely that the Marketplace Fairness Act or some variation of it will eventually pass as states increasingly complain about tax loopholes in digital sales.

Until such time as companies are legally mandated to collect sales tax, B2B companies can choose to collect taxes or not on out-of-state orders. However, it's a good idea to prepare for the possibility, and since companies must collect taxes within the states where they operate, it's not much more difficult to customize the software to handle taxes in all the states.

Determining How Much to Collect

Determining how much tax to collect manually would be a nightmare for the staff of a busy B2B eCommerce platform that commonly sells supplies, business equipment, and items for resale in all the states. Generating B2B invoices and fulfilling orders would languish until staff could examine orders and consult tax tables, connect for updates, and determine which products fall into certain categories.

Each state has its own sales tax exemptions, tax law regulations, tax exemption certificates, and taxable items, which makes accurate manual tax calculations nearly impossible. For example, Texas, which has one of the highest sales tax rates, normally taxes products at 8.25 percent but charges 66 percent of that rate for services. Every county in the state also has a different tax rate based on a local tax option, so companies would need to determine which county each customer is actually from, a daunting task when dealing with lots of Texas orders.

The problem becomes magnified when orders consist of taxable and nontaxable items, drop-shipping where items ship from different locations, some of which might be in the state and some of which might be outside its jurisdiction. Split shipping introduces an entirely different level of uncertainty when bulk orders are shipped to hundreds of separate store addresses. These orders might go to different countries, states, cities, and counties and have different product distributions that might or might not be taxable and other variables.

Custom tax-calculating APIs are available as stand-alone applications and API additions that can be integrated into B2B websites to calculate taxes accurately. B2B platform customizations might be needed to route the information where it's most needed in ERP and CRM software, add special features like ZIP code and street address lookups, and other customizations. Avalara is one of the most accurate and popular APIs because it calculates taxes precisely based on ZIP codes, verifies addresses, and checks tax rates through real-time connections with the relevant taxing authorities.

Sales Tax Collection with Rate Tables

B2B companies that have fewer taxable sales and don't want to pay a premium for a real-time API integration often opt for rate tables, which are less expensive, that plug into the API layer of order-calculating software. These can be used for years and updated with new rate tables.

However, it's likely that transactions will occasionally be off by a few pennies or dollars depending on the size of the order and the tax rate. However, since there are no fees per transaction when using this method, decision-makers feel that paying a little extra to make up for tax errors is a bargain.

Ensuring Accurate Collection of Sales Tax

There were more than 6,500 changes to sales tax rates in U.S. counties last year. It's really impractical—and impossible—to keep up with all these changes manually for multiple orders and jurisdictions, which is why states haven't pursued collections in this area in the past. States got better results auditing local, registered companies that could be taken to court and fined for noncompliance. However, integrating a real-time API to calculate taxes now makes it possible for any company to remit sales tax properly.

These integrations are so efficient that they can even file IRS returns, state taxes, and sales and use a sales tax return for a B2B eCommerce platform. Larger B2B companies and those companies that sell to businesses that have ties to government agencies are better off paying the small transaction fees to automate accurate tax calculations and foster an image of professional competence.

Business Benefits of Sales Tax Integrations and Customizations

Customers can use customized back-office integrations to research tax rates for their own needs, which makes their B2B platforms more valuable to them. Customizations can generate sales tax reports by state, county, products, and other criteria. Customers love the fast tax calculations no matter where products need to go in complex shipping strategies that involve split-shipping and drop-shipping applications. Back-office fulfillment speeds are almost instantaneous with real-time sales tax calculations and automatic designations of taxable and nontaxable products.

Customized features can also manage the administrative duties associated with sales tax collection such as connecting automatically with sales tax offices, preparing returns, forwarding taxes electronically, remit sales tax with a state, and managing documentation such as customer resale certificates issued by the state, which should be updated each year but often are never collected, updated or kept on file.

International Taxes Like VAT

B2B sales in the European Union are tremendously common for U.S. eCommerce companies, and EU members use Value Added Tax or VAT, which is added to the price of goods and services. The laws for paying these taxes on digital sales to Europe have been in place since 2003, but new regulations have changed the picture and might require a B2B company to collect VAT. Although VAT is collected throughout the EU, the tax rates have ranged from 1 percent to 27 percent. Before 2015, companies could sell through a Luxembourg exchange and only charge a minimum of 1 percent. In 2015, companies must charge the rate that applies to each delivery address.

Of course, most B2B companies aren't affected if they only sell goods for resale. However, products used in business operations and as gifts or incentives are subject to VAT. Companies doing business in the EU face the unusual complication of adding VAT to product prices and forwarding the taxes to the appropriate tax authority. There are minimum sales thresholds and exemptions for food and children's clothing, but these seldom apply to B2B companies. Other countries have similar tax situations and customs and duties that must be calculated, collected, and forwarded.

B2B customizations can manage these tax calculations effortlessly by connecting with the appropriate tax information through the API layer, getting the latest information, applying the taxes, making entries in accounting software, and generating reports. Even companies that don't currently sell in Europe might expand into this lucrative market, so getting the technology in place during platform development could make expansion a more attractive option. It's always important to build a platform that can grow and adapt.

Charge Sales Tax with These Tips

The world is rapidly becoming a single marketplace, and getting your B2B website ready to sell anywhere and anytime makes a sound financial strategy. At Clarity Ventures, we can develop customizations that make national and global B2B sales as simple as selling products from a neighborhood store.

During the implementation process, we can install intuitive systems like Avalara that can provide real-time address verifications, determine sales tax rates by ZIP codes and ensure that your business is always in compliance to remit sales tax. We also understand how valuable these tools can be for speeding up order fulfillment, making accurate tax calculations, and forwarding the information to inventory and accounting.

Call or contact us today to find out more about back-office sales tax integrations or request a custom price quote based on your B2B eCommerce development needs.

Tax automation provides accurate tax rates for sales tax collected.

Get the Best B2B eCommerce Platform

Whether you're just getting started or already in the race, Clarity can help with tax calculation and tax compliance. Our expert team can develop the platform to your specifications and guide you on best practices.

Get in touch today for a free demo or a free, no-obligation discovery session with our experts to go over your needs and find out what solutions would work best for your B2B organization.

FAQ

 

Integrating sales tax is crucial for B2B eCommerce for several reasons. Firstly, B2B transactions often involve large order volumes and complex pricing structures, making accurate sales tax calculation challenging. Integration automates the calculation process, ensuring compliance and minimizing errors. Secondly, B2B businesses often operate across multiple jurisdictions, each with unique sales tax regulations.

Integration enables real-time sales tax rate updates and automatic tax determination based on customer location, simplifying the complex sales tax landscape.

Seamless tax integration also enhances the customer experience by providing transparent and accurate pricing upfront, reducing surprises, and improving trust. Tax calculation for customers with a sales tax exemption can also be calculated more easily after a tax calculation implementation process with your ERP system.

 

Sales tax software in B2B eCommerce works by automating the process of calculating and applying sales tax to transactions. It involves integrating a sales tax calculation software or service with the eCommerce platform used for B2B sales. The integration allows real-time access to accurate sales tax rates and rules based on the customer's location and the products or services being sold.

When a B2B transaction occurs, the integrated system automatically determines the applicable sales tax, adds it to the total amount, and displays it to the customer during the checkout process. This ensures tax compliance with sales tax regulations, reduces manual effort, and provides a seamless experience for both the business and its customers. It can also handle tax-exempt customers, help with tax returns, and analyze sales and use..

 

Yes, sales tax integration is designed to handle different tax rates in different regions and ensure tax compliance. Such a sales tax nexus incorporates tax rate databases or APIs that provide up-to-date sales tax information for various jurisdictions. When a B2B transaction takes place, the integration automatically identifies the customer's location and retrieves the applicable rates for that region.

This ensures tax compliance and calculates buyer sales tax correctly, regardless of the customer's location. Tax integration is built to handle the complexities of tax regulations across multiple regions, providing accurate tax calculation and ensuring compliance with the specific sales tax requirements of each jurisdiction.

 

Sales tax compliance can be achieved through diligent adherence to regulatory guidelines and leveraging technology. Here are some of the ways that tax automation can help.

Businesses must accurately determine their tax obligations based on the products or services they offer and the jurisdictions in which they operate. Implementing reliable accounting software—often connected to an ERP system—can automate tax calculations and ensure accurate reporting for proper sales tax compliance. Regularly monitoring changes in tax laws and rates is also crucial to achieve sales tax compliance.

Businesses should also maintain meticulous records of transactions and sales data, enabling easy retrieval of data during audits. Training staff on sales tax regulations and fostering a culture of compliance within the organization is essential. Utilizing professional tax services or consultants can provide valuable insights and guidance.

Finally, regularly reviewing and updating tax compliance processes ensures adaptability to evolving tax changes for sales tax compliance, fostering a proactive approach to compliance rather than a reactive one.

To ensure compliance, it's very helpful if tax automation systems are put in place that connect to an ERP system. Custom solutions can no only gather sales data to help with tax returns, but it can also monitor tax changes and improve tax automation.

 

Sales and use tax is a form of consumption tax imposed by state and local governments on the sale, lease, or rental of goods and certain services. It is a transaction-based tax where the buyer pays a percentage of the purchase price, and the seller collects and remits it to the appropriate tax authorities.

"Sales tax" typically applies when a product is sold, while "use tax" is levied on items purchased outside the taxing jurisdiction but used within it. Businesses are responsible for doing their own tax calculation—collecting and remitting the tax—ensuring compliance with applicable rates and regulations.

The revenue generated from a sales and use tax often funds local infrastructure, education, and public services, making it a significant source of income for governmental entities.

 

Tax compliance in eCommerce is of paramount importance due to several critical reasons. First, tax calculation ensures legal adherence, preventing businesses from facing hefty fines, penalties, or even legal action. Tax authorities have become increasingly vigilant in monitoring online transactions, making compliance a non-negotiable aspect of operating an eCommerce venture.

Secondly, tax automation and compliance fosters trust and credibility with customers. When shoppers see transparent and accurate tax calculation results at checkout, it builds confidence in the business. It also helps avoid any potential customer dissatisfaction or disputes related to overcharged or undercharged taxes.

Tax compliance also facilitates smooth cross-border operations. Different regions have varying tax regulations, and compliance ensures seamless international trade, avoiding potential complications or delays in shipping goods.

Also, accurate tax reporting and tax data collection is essential for financial management. It ensures that businesses have precise records for accounting, auditing, and future financial planning. This, in turn, helps in making informed business decisions and securing loans or investments.

Non-compliance can harm a company's reputation. Public trust is easily eroded if a business is perceived as evading taxes, potentially leading to a loss of customers and partners.

Tax compliance is indispensable for legal, financial, operational, and reputational reasons. It safeguards a business's integrity, sustains customer trust, and enables smooth and lawful eCommerce operations in a global marketplace.

 

ECommerce tax integration streamlines the complex process of adhering to tax rules for online businesses, taking care of all the details for tax compliance. By seamlessly integrating with a company's eCommerce platform, this technology automates the calculation, collection, and reporting of taxes. It ensures compliance with local, state, and international tax regulations, reducing the risk of costly errors or fines.

ECommerce tax integration also keeps businesses up-to-date with ever-changing tax codes, adapting to new rules and tax changes in real-time. This eliminates the need for manual updates and constant monitoring, saving valuable time and resources. It provides accurate tax calculations based on factors like location, product type, and customer category, preventing over or underpayment. It can also calculate the data necessary for tax returns.

Ultimately, eCommerce tax integration promotes transparency and trust with customers, as they see precise tax amounts at checkout. This fosters a positive buying experience, helping businesses build a solid reputation while avoiding legal complications due to incorrect tax data or out-of-date tax rules. In essence, this technology acts as a crucial tool for businesses to navigate the intricate landscape of tax compliance in the digital marketplace.

 

Accounting software simplifies tax obligations by automating the process and ensuring accuracy. It efficiently tracks income, expenses, and deductions, streamlining the organization of financial data.

The accounting software often integrates tax regulations and updates, staying current with the latest tax laws. Through categorized transactions, it generates comprehensive reports that facilitate the identification of taxable income and allowable deductions.

This accounting software also automates the calculation of various taxes, such as income tax and sales tax, based on the entered financial data. By providing real-time insights into financial standings, the software enables businesses to make informed decisions to optimize their tax positions.

Overall, accounting software enhances efficiency, reduces errors, and ensures compliance with tax obligations, making the tax-filing process smoother and more accurate for businesses.

 

Business tax software facilitates tax automation by streamlining and automating various tax-related processes for companies. These tools calculate tax across tax jurisdictions, ensuring accurate and efficient financial reporting. They often integrate with accounting systems, enabling seamless data transfer and reducing manual errors.

Business tax software also keeps abreast of changing tax laws and regulations, automatically updating calculations to ensure compliance. With features like electronic filing and submission, these tools enhance efficiency, saving time and resources. They can also offer audit trails and documentation, aiding in transparency and accountability. Overall, by automating tax-related tasks, business tax software enables organizations to navigate the intricacies of taxation with ease, fostering financial accuracy and compliance.

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Stephen Beer is a Content Writer at Clarity Ventures and has written about various tech industries for nearly a decade. He is determined to demystify HIPAA, integration, enterpise SEO, and eCommerce with easy-to-read, easy-to-understand articles to help businesses make the best decisions.