What Does the Wayfair Sales Tax Ruling Mean for my Business?

In South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the physical presence nexus rule for state sales taxes. Without the requirement of a physical presence to establish nexus, it is possible for solely virtual and economic contacts in a state to give the state jurisdiction to require an out-of-state retailer to collect and remit sales and use tax on sales to in-state customers.

What does Wayfair mean for Sellers?

In South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the physical presence nexus rule for state sales taxes. Without the requirement of a physical presence to establish nexus, it is possible for solely virtual and economic contacts in a state to give the state jurisdiction to require an out-of-state retailer to collect and remit sales and use tax on sales to in-state customers.

The Court did not create another “bright line” test for determining when a retailer has nexus for sales and use tax purposes, but instead noted that the U.S. Constitution prohibits states from placing an undue burden on interstate commerce. While the Court did observe that many aspects of the South Dakota nexus law and related factors indicated the law may not create an undue burden on an out-of-state seller, it sent the case back to the South Dakota Supreme Court for further deliberations on whether an undue burden existed.  

In recognition of the overturning of the physical presence nexus rule and the requirement that state nexus rules may not overly burden interstate commerce, many states have introduced sales tax nexus thresholds based on factors such as receipts generated from customers in the state and a minimum number of transactions with customers in the state.  Below is a summary of the thresholds in place in a number of those states:

State-by-State Threshold & Effective Dates

Alabama: $250,000 and one or more nexus-creating activities

Effective Date: October 1, 2018

Connecticut: Regular or systematic solicitation of sales, plus $250,000 and 200 transactions

Effective Date: December 1, 2018 (previous standard in effect until December 1, 2018)

Hawaii: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: July 1, 2018

Illinois: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: October 1, 2018

Indiana: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: TBD (pending resolution of state litigation regarding economic nexus law)

Iowa: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: January 1, 2018

Kentucky: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: October 1, 2018

Louisiana: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: TBD (when US Supreme Court rules the SD statute constitutional)

Maine: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: July 1, 2018

Maryland (proposed): $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: October 1, 2018 (pending adoption of emergency regulation)

Michigan: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: October 1, 2018

Minnesota: Regular or systematic solicitation of sales, plus either 100 transactions or 10 or more transactions totaling over $100,000

Effective Date: October 1, 2018

Mississippi: $250,000 plus purposeful or systematic exploitation of the MIssissippi market

Effective Date: September 1, 2018

Nebraska: $100,000 or 200 transactions + meet “doing business” definition

Effective Date: January 1, 2019

Nevada (proposed): $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: TBD

North Carolina: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: November 1, 2018

North Dakota: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: October 1, 2018

South Dakota: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: TBD (pending resolution of state Wayfair litigation) 

Tennessee: $500,000 and regular or systematic solicitation

Effective Date: TBD (pending resolution of state litigation regarding state economic nexus rule and approval by General Assembly) 

Utah: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: January 1, 2019

Vermont: Regular, systematic, or seasonal solicitation of sales, plus either $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: July 1, 2018

Washington: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: October 1, 2018

Wisconsin (proposed): TBD (likely $100,000 or 200 transactions)

Effective Date: October 1, 2018 

Wyoming: $100,000 or 200 transactions

Effective Date: TBD (pending resolution of state litigation regarding economic nexus law)

The tax authorities or officials of various U.S. states have issued statements and guidance or otherwise responded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in “South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc.”

In Wayfair, the Supreme Court overruled the physical presence nexus standard of Quill and National Bellas Hess for state and local taxation of remote sales.

As soon as the Supreme Court issued its decision in Wayfair (on June 21, 2018), various states began issuing statements or guidance, or introducing bills in response.

The following provides a summary of state actions or responses to Wayfair to date.

State by State Breakdown

Alabama

The Alabama Department of Revenue on July 3, 2018, issued guidance providing that the state’s existing “economic nexus” rule (810-6-2-.90.03), effective January 2016, will be applied prospectively only for sales made on or after October 1, 2018. While this rule technically was effective January 1, 2016, its validity was in question pending the outcome of the Wayfair decision. Because Wayfair removed the constitutional impediments to the rule, it will be enforced going forward.

Remote sellers with annual Alabama sales in excess of the rule’s $250,000 small-seller exception need to register for the Alabama Simplified Sellers Use Tax (SSUT) program and begin collecting tax no later than October 1, 2018. The SSUT program requires a participating seller to collect a tax of 8% on all sales into the state and to remit all such collections to the Department of Revenue (rather than collecting and remitting in individual localities).

In addition to the collection requirements for remote sellers, Alabama law requires marketplace facilitators with Alabama marketplace sales in excess of $250,000 to collect tax on sales made by or on behalf of its third-party sellers or to comply with use tax reporting and customer notification requirements. Marketplace facilitators must start collecting or complying with the reporting requirements on or before January 1, 2019. The marketplace facilitator can choose to begin collecting under the SSUT beginning in October 2018, and if a remote seller can demonstrate that a marketplace facilitator is collecting and remitting on its behalf, the seller is relieved of the collection obligation.

Arkansas

A legislative tax reform task force recommended to the legislature that remote sellers with more than $100,000 in sales or at least 200 separate transactions in Arkansas be required to collect and remit Arkansas sales and use tax. It was not recommended that the requirement be retroactive.

Colorado

A spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Revenue, in a statement to the tax press, said “whatever we [Colorado Department of Revenue] do for Wayfair will have no impact on our noncollecting reporting requirements.” The spokesperson further noted, “If Colorado should do as most other states have done and require most remote sellers to collect and remit sales taxes,” the reporting law “will still be in effect for any vendors that choose not to collect sales taxes.”

Hawaii

The Hawaii Department of Taxation on June 27, 2018, announced how it plans to implement the state’s recently enacted “general excise tax” (GET) economic nexus provisions. This law was initially reported to apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2017.

The Department of Taxation subsequently announced that it would not enforce the state’s economic nexus provisions retroactively to all tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, to avoid any constitutional concerns. Thus, taxpayers that lacked physical presence in Hawaii before July 1, 2018, but that met the $100,000 or 200-transaction threshold in 2017 or 2018, will not be required to remit general excise tax for the period from January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2018. However, taxpayers that meet these standards will be subject to general excise tax beginning on July 1, 2018 (or on the first day of the tax year beginning on or after July 1, 2018 if the taxpayer is a fiscal year taxpayer) and must file their first periodic returns by the statutory deadline for that period.

Idaho

The Idaho Tax Commission on June 28, 2018, issued a release stating that it was “...still studying how the decision affects out-of-state retailers, such as online sellers, that make sales to Idaho citizens" and that it is "closely watching any actions by the U.S. Congress on this issue.”

The Tax Commission also stated that it will implement a new law (House Bill 578) that requires out-of-state retailers to collect Idaho sales tax on their sales to Idaho customers when: (1) the out-of-state seller has an agreement with an Idaho retailer to refer potential buyers to the out-of-state seller for a commission; and (2) the total sales to the Idaho buyers exceeded $10,000 in the previous year. The effective date for the law is July 1, 2018. Any out-of-state retailer that is required or wants to collect the state sales tax for its Idaho customers can register online.

Indiana

The Indiana Department of Revenue announced that remote sellers are not obligated to register or collect Indiana sales tax until a declaratory judgment action is resolved (that is, while the Department is currently prohibited from enforcing the obligation to collect sales tax from remote sellers until the pending declaratory judgment action is resolved). The Indiana economic nexus law is substantially similar to South Dakota’s law.

In a “frequently asked questions” (FAQs) document (dated July 9, 2018 on the state website), the Department stated it will not seek retroactive enforcement of its economic nexus statute and has targeted October 1, 2018 as the enforcement date of Indiana’s economic nexus law in Indiana Code 6-2.5-2-1(c) (pending resolution of the declaratory judgment).

Under the FAQs, the Department of Revenue stated:

Indiana’s Department of Revenue is currently prohibited from enforcing the obligation to collect sales tax from remote sellers until a declaratory judgment action currently pending in Indiana is resolved. Moreover, remote sellers are not obligated to register or collect Indiana sales tax until the declaratory judgment is resolved.

Pending resolution of the declaratory judgment action, DoR will begin enforcing Indiana’s economic nexus law on October 1, 2018.

Iowa

The Iowa Department of Revenue posted a statement on its website simply confirming that the state’s recently enacted economic provisions (substantially similar to those of South Dakota) are effective January 1, 2019.

The Iowa Department of Revenue noted that “the Wayfair ruling does not change the effective date of Senate File (SF) 2417 and the Iowa Department of Revenue will not seek to impose sales tax liability for periods prior to January 1, 2019 for retailers whose only obligation to collect Iowa sales tax comes from these new laws.”

If a retailer should have collected Iowa sales tax under the traditional physical presence rule of Quill Corp. v. North Dakota and Iowa law that existed prior to SF 2417, those retailers are encouraged to participate in Iowa’s voluntary disclosure program.

Kentucky

The Kentucky Department of Revenue, on June 27, 2018, issued a statement noting remote sellers that meet the threshold transaction or receipt thresholds ($100,000 of gross receipts from Kentucky sales of tangible personal property or digital property or 200 or more separate transactions for delivery into Kentucky) need to prepare to begin the registration process for collection of Kentucky sales and use tax on a prospective basis.

Louisiana

Louisiana’s Department of Revenue reportedly has targeted January 1, 2019, for an update to its processing systems that would allow the Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers (created under Louisiana House Bill 17) to serve as the single collector of state and local sales and use tax for remote sellers, according to Louisiana’s Secretary of Revenue. The Department will be issuing further guidance from the commission on next steps for remote dealers to comply with Louisiana law going forward. In addition, the Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers will be discussing how to become compliant with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement without adopting the agreement and whether legislation is needed.

Initially (soon after the decision in Wayfair), the Department of Revenue issued a statement noting that Louisiana’s nexus provisions are similar to those in South Dakota—that is, a threshold of $100,000 of Louisiana sales or 200 or more separate transactions for delivery into Louisiana.  In its statement on June 21, 2018, the Department of Revenue noted that because the U.S. Supreme Court remanded Wayfair, it will be some time before there is a final decision and the full impact of the decision is known.

Under current law, Louisiana’s sales and use tax collection requirements apply to all tax periods beginning on or after the date of a U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Wayfair concluding that South Dakota’s economic nexus rules are constitutional.

Maryland

The Comptroller issued a tax alert (July 2018) explaining that taxpayers need to review the Supreme Court’s decision in Wayfair to identify how it affects them. The Comptroller, while indicating additional guidance will be provided, explained Maryland imposes a sales tax collection requirement as broadly as is permitted under the U.S. Constitution.

The state’s website indicates that the information provided under  “Nexus Information for Sales and Use Tax” is “under review in light of the United States Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc."

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue on June 22, 2018, issued a statement that the existing regulation as applicable to vendors making sales via the internet “continues to apply and is not impacted by the Supreme Court's decision.”

Under the regulation, remote sellers that (1) have the requisite “in-state physical presence” (generally defined with references to having “apps” and “cookies” in Massachusetts or having relationships with in-state content distribution networks, and (2) meet a specific sales threshold of more than $500,000 in Massachusetts sales from transactions completed over the internet and delivery into Massachusetts of 100 or more transactions, are required to collect and remit Massachusetts sales and use tax.

Minnesota

The Department of Revenue issued a release indicating it plans on July 25, 2018, to announce the date by which it will require remote sellers and marketplace providers to collect and remit applicable sales or use tax on sales delivered into the state. In 2017, Minnesota passed legislation requiring remote sellers and marketplaces meeting certain thresholds to collect tax on sales into the state, with the statute becoming effective the earlier of an overturn of Quill by the U.S. Supreme Court or January 1, 2019.

Mississippi

The Mississippi Department of Revenue on June 21, 2018, issued a statement that:

The effect of the U. S. Supreme Court’s decision is that all out-of-state sellers who lack physical presence in [Mississippi] must now collect tax on sales to [Mississippi] residents. Mississippi requires any out-of-state seller lacking physical presence and who has sales greater than $250,000 for the prior 12-month period must register and collect the tax from its [Mississippi] customers.

Montana

The Montana Department of Revenue issued a statement noting the Wayfair decision generally will not affect sales to customers in Montana because the state does not impose a general sales or use tax. However, Montana remote sellers making sales into other states may be required to collect and remit depending on the respective state’s laws.

Nevada

The Nevada Tax Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 13, 2018 to receive comments on the state’s adoption of a regulation requiring remote sellers to collect and remit Nevada sales and use tax. The regulation proposes to adopt economic nexus for sales and use tax purposes with thresholds that mimic South Dakota's law (more than $100,000 in sales or 200 or more separate transactions for delivery into the state). Under the proposed regulation [PDF 145 KB], the retailer must register with the Department of Taxation no later than the first day of the first calendar month that begins 30 calendar days after the retailer meets the economic nexus threshold.

New Hampshire

A joint legislative task force has assembled draft legislation to be introduced in a July 25, 2018 special session. Although New Hampshire does not impose sales or use taxes, the legislation would impede other states from imposing a sales and use tax collection obligation on New Hampshire remote sellers.

The legislation would prohibit foreign taxing jurisdictions, as defined, from requesting information from, conducting examinations of, or imposing sales and use tax collection obligations on sellers in New Hampshire, unless the foreign taxing jurisdiction registers and provides notice to the New Hampshire attorney general. Before allowing such an examination to go forward, the attorney general of New Hampshire would be required to determine that the laws of the foreign jurisdiction meet the requirements of the U.S. and New Hampshire constitutions—including a safe harbor for small sellers; a prohibition against retroactive application of any collection requirement; and membership in Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA) or substantial compliance with the individual provisions of the SSUTA. The legislation would also prohibit sellers in New Hampshire from providing private customer information to any foreign taxing authority for purposes of determining liability for collection of certain sales or use taxes unless the seller has provided a written notice of the request for such information to the attorney general. The legislation would, however, allow sellers to comply with any directive of a foreign taxing authority, while preserving the seller’s rights under the statute, if the seller determines that such compliance is in the seller’s best interest.

New Jersey

In each house of the New Jersey legislature, bills were introduced to adopt an economic nexus law identical to that under South Dakota law. The collection obligation would begin the first day of a calendar quarter 90 days following enactment. Assembly bill (AB 4261) and the companion Senate bill (SB 2794) were passed by the legislature, but the legislation has not yet been signed by the governor.

North Dakota

The Office of State Tax Commissioner created a webpage explaining the sales and use tax collection laws applicable in North Dakota.

If you do not meet the Small Seller Exception ...and you are not already registered and collecting North Dakota sales tax, you will need to be registered and begin collecting the tax in North Dakota on October 1, 2018, or 60 days after you meet the Small Seller Exception threshold, whichever is later.

North Dakota’s law is similar to South Dakota’s law, requiring remote sellers to collect North Dakota sales and use tax if the seller’s sales into the state exceed $100,000 or if the seller has 200 or more sales shipped to North Dakota.

The new webpage provides resources for taxpayers to register and apply for a North Dakota sales and use tax permit. The North Dakota tax commissioner announced that over the next few weeks, the tax office “will be working to implement this new law change.” The website indicates that it is a “work in progress” with information to be added as it is available.

Ohio

A Department of Taxation representative reportedly stated that the Wayfair decision did not have an immediate, direct impact on Ohio because the Supreme Court examined the law of South Dakota, rather than Ohio’s. 

Under Ohio law, an out-of-state vendor that uses in state software to make sales or that has relationships with a content-distribution networks in Ohio and has gross receipts in excess of $500,000 from sales of tangible personal property to Ohio customers is deemed to have nexus.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s Division of Taxation created a webpage to provide information for non-collecting retailers, referrers, and retail sales facilitators. In “frequently asked questions" (FAQs) revised July 20, 2018, the state confirmed that taxpayers still have the option to comply with the state’s use tax notice and reporting requirements instead of registering to collect and remit sales and use taxes following Wayfair.

Under a Rhode Island law enacted in 2017, any non-collecting retailer that has in the immediately preceding calendar year (1) over $100,000 of taxable sales of tangible personal property, prewritten computer software, or taxable services delivered into Rhode Island, or (2) over 200 of such sales transactions must comply with certain use tax reporting requirements or register to collect and remit sales and use tax.

South Carolina

The South Carolina Department of Revenue issued a draft revenue ruling that addresses nexus with localities. The Department of Revenue explained, effective October 1, 2018:

It is the Department’s position that once a retailer has established nexus with South Carolina for sales and use tax purposes, the retailer has nexus for sales and use tax purposes with every local jurisdiction in the state for which the Department administers and collects a local sales and use tax. As such, the retailer must remit local sales and use taxes for any local jurisdiction into which deliveries are made by, or on behalf of, the retailer.

The Department of Revenue created an extensive question and answer (Q&A) list to assist remote sellers. Public comments are due September 4, 2018.

South Dakota

The South Dakota governor has been meeting with legislators and state revenue officials to discuss legislation to be considered at a special legislative session the governor has called. According to the governor’s spokesperson, the proposed legislation is expected to be made available to the public next week.

Two proposals are likely to: (1) remove the injunction put in place by the state circuit court in Wayfair and (2) require marketplaces to collect and remit sales and use tax on sales made by marketplace sellers.

Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Revenue issued a notice that reiterates that it is currently prohibited from enforcing the state's economic nexus rule (Rule 129(2)). The Department of Revenue makes clear that dealers (remote sellers) with no physical presence in Tennessee are not currently required to collect and remit Tennessee sales and use tax until the Department of Revenue issues a public notice specifying an enforcement date and under which circumstances dealers must collect and remit the tax. Rule 129(2) will not be applied retroactively.

Texas

The Texas Comptroller's Office met with its business advisory group and tax advisory group to discuss the state's approach in requiring remote sellers to collect and remit Texas sales and use tax. The Comptroller is considering amending the definition of “engaged in business” in Rule § 3.286(a)(4) and to adopt a safe harbor (e.g., a small seller exception). It is not yet known whether the safe harbor would contain both a dollar and transaction threshold. 

The current planned schedule for adopting and implementing the amended rule calls for distribution of a draft rule in September 2018 and submission of a final proposed rule in October. The current plan calls for the rule to become effective on January 1, 2019 with enforcement to begin in either July or October of 2019.

During the meeting, it was clarified that legislation is needed to require marketplace providers to collect and remit sales and use tax. There was also discussion of the possibility of amending current law (Tex. Tax Code § 151.059) so as to allow remote sellers to collect a fee equal to the weighted average local tax rate in lieu of the actual local tax due on each sale.

Utah

Senate Bill 2001 was approved by lawmakers in a second special session. The bill was sent to the governor for signature on July 19, 2018.

Once enacted, this bill would impose a sales and use tax collection and remittance obligation on remote sellers (1) receiving gross revenue of more than $100,000 from the sale of tangible personal property, any product transferred electronically, or services for storage, use, or consumption in Utah; or (2) has 200 or more separate transactions from such sales. The provision establishing the new thresholds for a collection and remittance obligation would be effective January 1, 2019.

Part of the expected revenue from the change will be used to expand the scope of certain aspects of the state’s manufacturing machinery and equipment exemption.

Vermont

The Vermont Department of Taxes issued a statement explaining that remote sellers meeting the state’s economic nexus thresholds of sales of at least $100,000 or 200 individual transactions during any preceding 12-month period are required to register to collect and remit sales tax beginning July 1, 2018.

Washington

The Washington Department of Revenue noted on its webpage that it is examining the decision in Wayfair and implications for businesses and taxpayers. As a reminder, the state noted that, beginning January 1, 2018, remote sellers making $10,000 or more in retail sales to Washington purchasers must either: (1) collect and remit sales and use tax on sales to Washington purchasers, or (2) follow the state's use tax notice and reporting requirements.

West Virginia

The governor on June 21, 2018, issued a press release following the Supreme Court’s decision:

When I took office and our state was struggling financially, at that desperate time, I might have considered supporting legislation to enforce West Virginia sales tax on out-of-state transactions. However, now I do not support adding additional taxes on our people in this manner. This is an issue for the Legislature, and legislation would have to be passed to authorize the state to enforce the collection of out-of-state sales taxes. With our state’s growing economy, I don’t want to reach into West Virginians' pockets when we don’t need to.

Wisconsin

In a July 2, 2018 memo sent to the Wisconsin legislature, the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau stated that the statutory definition of a retailer effectively has been modified by the Wayfair decision because the physical presence standard is no longer constitutionally required.

Wisconsin defines "retailer engaged in business in this state" to include "any retailer selling tangible personal property, or items, property, or goods...or taxable services for storage, use, or other consumption in this state, unless otherwise limited by federal law." The memo notes, however, that unlike South Dakota, the Wisconsin statutes do not specifically provide for “an electronic nexus threshold," and it is unclear that requiring out-of-state vendors to collect tax without changes to statutes or administrative code would comport with the Supreme Court’s decision.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue subsequently on July 5, 2018, issued guidance stating that beginning October 1, 2018, remote sellers will be required to collect and remit sales or use tax on sales of taxable products and services in Wisconsin. The Department of Revenue is developing a rule consistent with the Court’s decision in Wayfair for small-seller exceptions and other matters.

Wyoming

The Wyoming Department of Revenue reportedly stated that it is targeting October 1, 2018, as the enforcement date for remote sellers to be licensed to collect and remit sales and use tax.

Other states

Tax agencies or government representatives of other states including California, Florida, Nebraska, New York, South Carolina, and Tennessee—in general statements or in response to specific requests for statements from the tax press—have acknowledged the Wayfair decision and have noted that they are reviewing the decision to ascertain the implications for their respective states.

Wayfair Implications for Foreign Sellers

Wayfair did not distinguish between foreign and domestic sellers. This means that unless a state creates legislation that says otherwise, economic nexus standards will likely apply to foreign sellers. If a foreign seller has no presence in the state, this may complicate things and invite further clarification.

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