Overview

Amazon sellers who collect sales tax must register with individual state tax authorities and obtain valid tax registration numbers before enabling tax calculation on Seller Central. This process is essential for staying compliant with state and local tax obligations, and understanding the distinction between state-issued registration numbers and Streamlined Sales Tax IDs can prevent costly setup errors.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• State registration is required before collecting tax — You cannot begin calculating or collecting sales and use tax in any state or jurisdiction until you have registered with that state's tax authority and received a tax registration number.
• Each state issues its own unique number — Even if you participate in the Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) program, each individual state will issue a separate tax registration number that you must use when configuring your Seller Central tax settings.
• Do not use your SSTID for tax calculation setup — Your Streamlined Sales Tax ID is only for communications within the SST program. Amazon requires the unique state-issued registration number, not the SSTID, when you configure tax settings.
• Sellers remain responsible for remittance and reporting — Registering and enabling tax collection on Amazon does not relieve you of your obligation to file returns and remit collected taxes to the appropriate authorities.
• Professional tax advice is strongly recommended — Amazon explicitly states that the information on this page does not constitute tax, legal, or professional advice, and sellers should consult qualified advisors.

How the Registration Process Works

Before you can enable tax calculation on any of your Amazon listings, you need to complete registration with each state where you have a tax collection obligation, commonly referred to as tax nexus. Each state's tax authority will issue you a unique registration number upon approval. This number serves as your credential for setting up tax calculation within Seller Central. If you have enrolled in the Streamlined Sales Tax Registration System, be aware that individual states will still assign you a distinct registration number separate from your overarching SSTID. It is this state-specific number that Amazon requires when you configure your tax settings.