200-transaction per annum threshold removed; $100k threshold remains
The US state of Alaska joins most other US states in withdrawing its transaction threshold for non-resident sellers. This had been 200 or more sales per annum, and applied to out-of-state – sellers without a presence or nexus in the state.
This means the obligation to register for sales tax collections only applies for remote sellers with sales over $100,000 per annum.
The change applies from 1 January 2025.
Alaskan sales tax
Alaska is unique among U.S. states because it does not have a statewide sales tax. It has a lot of oil drilling revenues instead!
However, some local governments in Alaska are permitted to impose sales taxes, resulting in a patchwork system where tax rates can vary significantly depending on the location.
Local Sales Tax
About 100 municipalities and boroughs (Alaska’s equivalent to counties) levy sales taxes. These local rates typically range from 1% to 7.5%. The sales tax base (the goods and services subject to tax) and the rates vary, as each local government has the authority to establish its own rules. This means a purchase in Anchorage, which has no sales tax, will not be taxed, but a similar purchase in Juneau or Sitka might be subject to a local sales tax.
Exemptions and Special Provisions
Local governments may also set exemptions. For example, many Alaskan municipalities exempt essential items like groceries or prescription medications from sales tax. In some areas, there are seasonal tax holidays, or caps on taxable amounts, meaning taxes may only apply to the first few thousand dollars of large purchases.
Why No Statewide Sales Tax?
Alaska’s lack of a statewide sales tax is primarily due to its reliance on oil revenues. The state collects significant revenue from oil extraction and production taxes, which allows it to avoid levying both state income and sales taxes. However, fluctuating oil prices and revenue have sparked debates about whether a statewide tax should be introduced.
US Sales Tax rates and selling thresholds
| State | State sales tax rate | Remote seller annual thresholds | Digital services taxable? | |||||
| $ threshold | Transactions threshold | |||||||
| Alabama | 4.0% | 1 Oct 2018 | $250,000 | Yes | ||||
| Alaska | 0% | - | n/a | No state-wide tax | ||||
| Arizona | 5.6% | 1 Oct 2019 | $100,000 | - | Yes | |||
| Arkansas | 6.5% | 1 July 2019 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| California | 6.0% | 1 April 2019 | $500,000 | - | No | |||
| Colorado | 2.9% | 1 Dec 2018 | $100,000 | - | Yes | |||
| Connecticut | 6.35% | 1 Dec 2018 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| Delaware | 0.0% | - | n/a | No state sales tax | ||||
| Florida | 6.0% | 1 July 2021 | $100,000 | - | No | Communications Tax. E-books exempt | ||
| Georgia | 4.0% | 1 Jan 2019 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | No | |||
| Hawaii | 4.0% | 1 July 2018 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | General Excise Tax | ||
| Idaho | 6.0% | 1 June 2019 | $100,000 | Yes | Software exempt | |||
| Illinois | 6.25% | 1 Oct 2018 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | No | |||
| Indiana | 7.0% | 1 Oct 2018 | $100,000 | - (since Jan 2024) | Yes | |||
| Iowa | 6.0% | 1 Jan 2019 | $100,000 | - | Yes | |||
| Kansas | 6.5% | 1 July 2021 | $100,000 | - | No | |||
| Kentucky | 6.0% | 1 Oct 2018 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| Louisiana | 4.45% | 1 July 2020 | $100,000 | - (since Aug 2023) | Yes | |||
| Maine | 5.5% | 1 July 2018 | $100,000 | - (since 2022) | Yes | |||
| Maryland | 6.0% | 1 Oct 2018 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| Massachusetts | 5.6% | 1 Oct 2018 | $100,000 | No | ||||
| Michigan | 6.0% | 30 Sep 2018 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | No | |||
| Minnesota | 6.875% | 1 Oct 2018 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| Mississippi | 7.0% | 1 Sep 2018 | $250,000 | - | Yes | |||
| Missouri | 4.225% | 1 Jan 2023 | $100,000 | - | No | |||
| Montana | 0.0% | - | n/a | No state sales tax | ||||
| Nebraska | 5.5% | 1 April 2019 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| Nevada | 4.6% | 1 Oct 2018 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | No | |||
| New Hampshire | 0.0% | - | n/a | |||||
| New Jersey | 6.625% | 1 Nov 2018 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| New Mexico | 5.0% | 1 July 2019 | $100,000 | - | Yes | |||
| New York | 4.0% | 21 July 2018 | $500,000 | 100 transactions | No | |||
| North Carolina | 4.75% | 1 Nov 2018 | $100,000 | - (since 2024) | Yes | |||
| North Dakota | 5.0% | 1 Oct 2018 | $100,000 | - | No | |||
| Ohio | 5.75% | 1 Aug 2019 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| Oklahoma | 4.5% | 1 Nov 2019 | $100,000 | - | No | |||
| Oregon | 0.0% | - | n/a | No state sales tax | ||||
| Pennsylvania | 6.0% | 1 July 2019 | $100,000 | Yes | ||||
| Puerto Rico | 10.5% | 1 Jan 2021 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| Rhode Island | 7.0% | 1 July 2019 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| South Carolina | 6.0% | 1 Nov 2018 | $100,000 | - | No | |||
| South Dakota | 4.5% | 1 Nov 2018 | $100,000 | - (since Jul 2023) | Yes | |||
| Tennessee | 7.0% | 1 July 2019 | $100,000 | - | Yes | |||
| Texas | 6.25% | 1 Oct 2019 | $500,000 | - | Yes | Only if physcial equivilaent is taxable (e.g. books) | ||
| Utah | 4.7% | 1 Jan 2019 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| Vermont | 6.0% | 1 July 2018 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| Virginia | 4.3% | 1 July 2019 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| Washington | 6.5% | 1 Oct 2018 | $100,000 | - | Yes | |||
| Washington, DC | 6.0% | 1 Jan 2019 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | |||
| West Virginia | 6.0% | 1 Jan 2019 | $100,000 | 200 transactions | Yes | Streaming services only | ||
| Wisconsin | 5.0% | 1 Oct 2018 | $100,000 | - (since 2021) | Yes | |||
| Wyoming | 4.0% | 1 Feb 2019 | $100,000 | - (since 2024) | Yes | |||
