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Sales Tax for Online Sellers Calculator

What you remit, and what compliance costs.

Written and maintained by Mohit PatelLast checked August 4, 2026How we build these
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Rates change with budgets and local ballot measures, and the rate that applies depends on the delivery address and product category. Treat these as planning figures, not as a filing.

Tax you must remit

$3,510

$14,040 is the marketplace's responsibility

Collected by marketplaces$14,040
You collect and remit$3,510
Compliance cost per year$3,240
Compliance as share of direct sales7.2%

Marketplace facilitator laws shift collection to the platform, so $14,040 never touches your return. But marketplace sales still count toward the nexus thresholds in most states, which is how sellers end up registered in states where they only owe tax on a small slice of direct sales — and paying $3,240 a year to file it.

How the Sales Tax for Online Sellers Calculator works

The tax an online seller actually remits is often a small fraction of their revenue, because marketplaces collect on their own sales. What is not small is the compliance cost — registering, filing and remitting in six or eight states can cost more than the tax on your direct sales.

Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price — check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.

Frequently asked questions

How much does sales tax compliance cost?

Filing fees, software or an accountant typically run £30-60 per state per filing. Monthly filing in eight states is around a hundred returns a year, which is a real cost whether you pay in money or in time.

Can I file less often?

Usually yes — most states assign filing frequency based on volume, and low-volume registrants often qualify for quarterly or annual filing. Ask; states rarely downgrade your frequency without being prompted.

Is it worth deregistering in a state?

If you have fallen well below the threshold and expect to stay there, yes — but check the trailing lookback rules first, and be aware you must re-register if you cross again. Some states require notice before you stop filing.

Should I use automated tax software?

Once you are registered in more than about three states, yes. Rate accuracy at address level is not something to maintain by hand, and the filing automation usually costs less than the accountant time it replaces.

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