If you sell products beyond consumable goods, you must collect sales tax and become a sales tax vendor. Here you can find information on which products require sales tax collection, the process of becoming a certified vendor, and the filing requirements.
Products Exempt from Sales Tax Collection
Farmers do not need to collect sales tax on farm and food products intended for later human consumption. This includes all fresh and processed foods, like fruits, vegetables, baked goods, jellies, jams, preserves, meats, eggs, dairy products, syrup, honey, cider, etc (unless listed below).
Taxable Farm and Food Sales
When selling direct to consumer, you must collect sales tax on:
- Prepared foods intended for immediate on-site consumption
- Candy
- Soft drinks and fruit juices with less than 70% real juice
- All non-food products sold to the end user
- Cut flowers, bedding plants, trees, shrubs, and other nursery products
- Forest products, firewood**, Christmas trees, lumber
- Fiber products (raw fleece or wool products when sold direct to end users)
- Hay, grain, straw (taxable if not being sold to another farmer)
- Horses sold for pleasure riding
- Ornamental crops like gourds, Indian corn, dried flowers, evergreens, etc.
- Crafts
- Topsoil, turf, gravel
**Firewood sold for home heating is not taxable; while firewood sold for recreational purposes (campfire, bonfire, cookout) is taxable.
Note: if these items are sold to someone else who will sell them directly to the public, you do NOT have to collect the sales tax, but you will need to file a resale certificate.
Becoming a Sales Tax Vendor – Form DTF-17-I – Certificate of Authority
This means you are involved in the direct sale of products to consumers/end users and must collect sales tax if selling the above taxable items. There are several types of sales tax vendors:
- Regular Vendors – with a permanent location
- Temporary Vendor – with sales in no more than 2 consecutive quarters in any 12-month period
- Show Vendor – sales of products at a flea market, craft fair, show, or farmers’ market, on either a regular or temporary basis and without a permanent location
You cannot legally make taxable sales until you have received your valid Certificate of Authority.
- Apply for your Certificate of Authority at least 20 days before you begin operating your business
- Your Certificate of Authority must be displayed prominently at your place of business or at fairs/markets
- It is very important to keep detailed records of your taxable sales
- Each transaction must include the item price and sales tax amount. Retain a copy of the receipt. Records should be kept for 3 years.
Filing Requirements
You must file a return each quarter even if you had no sales. Initially, you will be classified as a quarterly filer. Monthly and annual filing options are available if you qualify. Do not forget to file as penalties are stiff!
Download the form as a PDF.
For More Information:
NYS Dept. of Taxation and Finance Publication 750: A Guide to Sales Tax in New York State
Obtain by contacting: 800-462-8100
