Sales-tax exemption

The right paperwork, applied to the right purchases.

For retailers, exempt organizations, and approved professional accounts. Submit your documentation once, see its status in your account, and renew it before it expires.

Wholesale is not automatically tax exempt

Every application is reviewed

Approval applies to future eligible orders

Before you apply

The purpose of the purchase matters.

A resale or exemption certificate does not make every business purchase tax free. We review the issuing jurisdiction, certificate dates, shipping location, and how the products will be used.

May qualify

Products purchased for resale

Sealed retail products that your business will sell to customers, or purchases covered by a valid nonprofit or government exemption.

Example: retail mousse or aftercare displayed for customers to purchase and take home.

Generally taxable in Florida

Products used while providing a service

Professional solution, equipment, cosmetics, and supplies consumed or used while serving clients generally do not qualify for Florida resale treatment.

Example: gallon solution sprayed on a client during an appointment.

Both?

If you buy for resale and for use in services, say so in your application — mixed-use accounts are reviewed individually, and an exemption is never applied until that review is complete.

How it works

Three clear steps, one accountable record.

01 · Submit

Tell us what you buy

Complete the signed-in application and upload a current PDF, JPG, or PNG certificate.

02 · Review

We verify the details

Our team checks the business, jurisdiction, dates, certificate number, and intended purchase use.

03 · Checkout

Use the approved account

Once approved, sign in with the same account email before checking out. Tax remains on orders until approval.

Have this ready

A complete application moves faster.

01Legal business or organization name and the email used for your SoBe Tan account.

02A current resale, nonprofit, government, or other state-issued exemption certificate.

03The issuing state, certificate number, issue date, and expiration date.

04A clear statement of whether products will be resold, used in services, or both.

After you submit

What each status means.

Your application lives in your customer account. These are the states you may see there.

Pending

Submitted and in the review queue. Sales tax continues to apply at checkout while an application is pending.

Needs information

Something is missing or unclear. Read the reviewer’s note in your account, then submit a complete replacement application.

Approved

Your documentation was accepted. A separate line in your account confirms when the Shopify tax setting itself is active.

Denied

The application was not approved for exemption. Tax continues to apply, and the note in your account explains the decision.

Expired

The certificate on file has lapsed. Submit a current replacement to be reviewed again — expired accounts return to taxable checkout.

Replaced

A newer application from your account is now the current record. Only the newest application is reviewed.

Approval and activation are separate, deliberately — a person reviews your documents, and a person switches the tax setting on. Your account shows both.

Questions

The details, before you submit.

Does a wholesale order automatically qualify?

No. Wholesale pricing is based on quantity. Sales-tax exemption depends on the buyer, certificate, jurisdiction, shipping location, and intended use.

Is an EIN or 501(c)(3) letter enough?

Not by itself. Sales-tax exemptions are governed by state law, so we need the applicable state-issued certificate or other documentation accepted for the destination.

I ship orders to more than one state. Does one certificate cover them all?

Not automatically. Exemption is evaluated for the destination of each order, and a certificate valid in one state does not necessarily extend to another. Tell us where you ship in your application; we may request additional documentation for other destinations.

Will approval remove tax from an order already placed?

Approval is designed for future eligible orders. If tax was already charged, contact us with the order number; any adjustment depends on the order and applicable rules.

What happens when my certificate expires?

Your account will require renewal. If a current replacement is not approved in time, tax-exempt checkout is removed and tax collection resumes.

This application helps us document sales-tax treatment; it is not tax or legal advice. Eligibility is subject to the applicable taxing authority and may require additional documentation.

Apply