How to validate an exemption certificate in each state

You can validate an Alabama Resale Certificate through My Alabama Taxes - MAT. Scroll down to the second row of boxes. Under "Business" (1st box in the second row) is an option to “Verify an Exemption Certificate.” Enter the buyer’s taxpayer ID type, taxpayer ID, and the Exempt Sales account number, then click on "Search."

Sales tax in Alaska is at the local level only and sellers should contact the local jurisdiction directly to validate the resale certificate.  Note: you can validate remote sellers certificate by contacting the Business/Sellers - ARSSTC and contacting them via email.  Email found at the bottom of the page.  

Go to AZTaxes.gov License Verification and enter the eight-digit transaction privilege tax (TPT) license number that you would like to verify, then click submit.

Visit ATAP - Home (arkansas.gov). Scroll down. Under “Inquiries,” you will find an option to “validate sales tax permit.” From the drop down select Sales and Use Tax Permit or Streamlined Sales Tax Permit. Enter the permit ID and click submit for result.

Go to CDTFA Online Services (ca.gov).  Scroll down to "Registration" on the left and click on "Verify  A Permit, License or Account."  Choose “Seller’s Permit” for the taxable activity type information you are searching for, then provide the identification number.

Start here: Revenue Online – State of Colorado. Scroll down. Under “Sales Tax License” (2nd box on the left) is an option to “Verify a License or Exemption Certificate.” Click on that option and select "Yes" to verify a single certificate. Enter the ID and the certificate status should be displayed at the bottom of the page.

Visit eLicense Online (ct.gov). Enter the license number. You may choose to leave the other fields blank or fill out the fields with available information. Click submit.

Delaware does not impose sales tax or issue resale/exemption certificates.

Visit MyTax DC. Scroll down till you see the last box on the right. Under "More..." is an option to "Search for Certificate/License Exemptions." Select that option then select "Resale Certificate" for the Certificate/License Type. Fill out the Account ID and Certificate/License ID. Click on submit for results.

Go to Certificate Verification - SAP NetWeaver Portal. Select "Sales Tax" in the drop down list for "This request is for verification for." Then, enter your contact name for the "Contact Name" field and FL sales tax number for the "Certificate Number" field. On the next screen, enter the buyer's FL sales tax number, then click "verify."

Start on Georgia e-Services. Scroll down to the second row of boxes. Under "Sales Tax" click on "Verify Sales Tax ID(s)." Select "Next" then enter the 9-digit Sales Tax Number. If you're only validating a single certificate, click "Next." For multiple entries, you may hit "tab" or "enter" on your keyboard for additional entries, then click "next" once done.

Visit Hawaii - Online Services. Scroll down to the second box on the farthest left. Under "Business," select "Search Tax Licenses." Enter Taxpayer Name, DBA Name, and Customer ID, then click "Search."

Start here: Idaho Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) and scroll down to "Businesses" (last box in the first column). Click on "Validate a Permit." Select "Sales and Use Tax" for the Permit Type. Enter the Permit Number and click "next."

Start here: MyTax Illinois and scroll down to the "Searches" section (3rd box in the middle column). Click on "Verify a Sales Tax Exemption number (e-number)," then enter the exemption number. Click "Search" for results.

No online verification.  Contact the Indiana Department of Revenue through DOR: Contact Us (in.gov) to verify the certificate.

Start here: data.iowa.gov . In the upper right corner, you will find the "Find in This Dataset" search base. Enter the Iowa certificate ID, then hit "enter" on your keyboard. Search through the results to find the business you are verifying the certificate for.

Visit Kansas Department of Revenue || Exemption Certificate (ks.gov). Enter your Kansas Registration Number AND Exemption Certificate number you are verifying then click on "search."

No online verification.  Contact the Kentucky Department of Revenue directly or fill up the KY DOR - Contact Us Form.

Go to Resale Certificate - Louisiana Department of Revenue and scroll down to "Resale Certificate Validation." Enter your sales tax account number for the "Seller's LA Account Number" and your business name for the "Seller's Business Name." Click on "Verify." Once your account number has been confirmed, the resale certificate validation screen will appear. Enter the account number from the resale certificate in the "Purchaser's Louisiana Account Number" box, then the purchaser's legal name in the "Purchaser's Business Name" box. Click "Enter."

Visit MTP - Maine Tax Portal. Scroll down to the "Business" section (2nd box in the first row), and you will find the option: "Sales and Service Provider Tax Resale and Exemption Lookup." Choose the Certificate Type from the dropdown menu, then enter the certificate number and account ID. Click "Search" for results.

Go to MD Tax . Select "Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate Number" from the dropdown menu for the ID Type. Then, enter the 8-digit Maryland Central Registration number or a Sales and Use Tax exemption certificate number for the ID Value Field.

Start here: MassTaxConnect (state.ma.us). Find the "Business" box (3rd box in the first row). Click on "Verify Resale Certificate Form ST-4." Select "Sales Tax Account ID" for the ID Type, then enter the following information in the appropriate fields: Seller Acct ID and Buyer Account ID. Click "Next."

No online verification. Must contact Michigan Treasury at (517) 636-6925 for verification or other questions regarding resale certificate.

No online verification. You must contact 651-296-6181 or 800-657-3777 for verification or other questions regarding resale certificate.

Visit Mississippi DOR Portal. Scroll down to "Tools" (2nd box in the first column), then select "Verify a Permit Number." Select "Sales Permit" for the "Permit Type", enter the buyer's Permit ID, then click "Search Permit." 

No online verification. Must Call Missouri Department of Revenue at (573) 751-2836 for verification.

The state of Montana does not issue resale/exemption certificates since the state does not impose sales tax.

No online verification. Ensure that Form 13 is filled out completely and accurately. Call 402-471-5729 to verify.

Visit NV Resale Certificate Verification. Hover over "Reseller Permit Search" (2nd option in the page menu), and select how you would like to search for the reseller. We recommend using "Search by Business Permit Number (TID)." Enter the requested information on the next page, then click on the "I'm not a robot" option. Click "Search" for results.

New Hampshire does not impose general sales and use tax; therefore, the state does not issue certificates for resale or tax emeptions.

Start here: N.J. Department of Treasury - Division of Revenue, On-Line Inquiry (state.nj.us). Enter the first 4 characters of the Buyers name in the Name Control box. Enter the Certificate Number in the Certificate Number box. Click "Submit" for results.
Note: the other boxes can be left blank.

Proceed to NM - Taxpayer Access Point (TAP). Scroll down to "Business" (second box in the middle column) then select: "Check New Mexico Business Tax ID Status." Enter the buyer's NM Tax ID, the buyer's zip code, and last 4 digits of the buyer's FEIN, SSN, or ITIN. Click "Next".

Visit NY Department of Taxation and Finance - Registered Sales Tax Vendor Lookup. Enter the security code that is displayed, then select "Continue". Enter the buyer's sales tax identification number, then click "Continue."

Go to NC DOR - Registry of Sales and Use Tax Numbers. Enter the buyer's resale certificate number in the "Account ID/SST ID#" box. Enter the buyer's name or business name in the "Taxpayer Name" box, then select "Submit" for results.

Start here: ND - Taxpayer Access Point. Under the "Lookups and Inquiries" (3rd box in the first row), find and select the option: Sales & Use Permit Inquiry. Enter the 5 or 6 digits permit number for a standard permit or the 9-character ID for Streamlined Sales Tax ID. Click "Search" for results.

Start by going to Ohio Sales & Use Tax. Scroll down until you find the "Key Sales & Use Tax Resources." Under, you will find a "List of Active Vendors" (4th bullet point). Once you click on it, an updated Excel Sheet Page will pop up with the list of active vendors in Ohio. You may look through the list to find the buyer's business or use Ctrl + F for a quick search. You may enter the business name or taxpayer ID on the "Find" search bar. If all these options have been exhausted, yet you still can't find the business, then it's most likely that the buyer is not an active vendor in Ohio.

Visit OK - Taxpayer Access Point. Scroll down to the "Help" section (1st box in the second row), then select "Search." Select "Sales Permits" on the next page and again on the page after. Choose the type of document you received from the buyer for the "Search Type" field. Enter the required information, dependent on the search type, on the "Search Text" field, then click "Search."

The state of Oregon does not impose sales & use tax or issue a Salex Tax Exempt Certificate, otherwise known as Resale/Exemption Certificate. However, out-of-state sellers may accept the "Oregon Business Registry Resale Certificate" from Oregon buyers who buy goods outside the state to resell them in Oregon. 

No online verification. Ensure that the buyer's Pennsylvania Rev-1120 Form is filled out completely and accurately. Call the PA - Department of Revenue at 717-787-1064 to verify.

No online verification. Ensure that the buyer's resale certificate form is filled out completely and accurately. Call the RI - Division of Taxation at 401-574-8829 to verify.

No online verification. Ensure that the ST-8A South Carolina Resale Certificate form or other applicable resale certificate is filled out completely and accurately. Call the SC - Department of Revenue at 844-898-8542 to verify.

No online verification. Ensure that the buyer's Resale Certificate form or other applicable resale certificate is filled out completely and accurately. Call the SD - Department of Revenue at 1-800-829-9188 to verify.

Go to Tennessee - Taxpayer Access Portal. Scroll down to "Information and Inquiries" (2nd box in the last row) then select "View Options." Under "Other," select "Sales & Use Tax Certificate Lookup." Choose the buyer's certificate type from the drop-down menu for "Certificate Type," then enter the Exemption Number. Click "Submit."

Visit Texas - Sales Taxpayer Search. Enter the buyer's Taxpayer ID and/or FEI Number in the appropriate fields, then click "Search" for results.

No online verification. Ensure that the buyer's Utah TC-721 Exemption Certificate or other applicable resale certificate is filled out completely and accurately. Call the UT - Department of Revenue at 801-297-2200 to verify.

No online verification. Ensure that the buyer's Vermont Form S-3 or other applicable resale certificate is filled out completely and accurately. Call the VT - Department of Taxes at 802-828-2551 to verify.

No online verification. Ensure that the buyer's Virginia Form ST-10 or other applicable resale certificate is filled out completely and accurately. Call Virginia Tax at 804-367-8037 to verify.

Start here: Washington Department of Revenue Services. Under "Reports and Tools" (1st box), select "Business Lookup." Check "Reseller's Permit" then enter the buyer's Reseller Permit Number. Confirm that you are not a robot by clicking on the box, then press "Submit."

No online verification. Ensure that the buyer's resale certificate is filled out completely and accurately. Call the West Virginia Tax Division at 304-558-3333 to verify.

Visit Wisconsin - MyTax Account. Under "Additional Services" (2nd box in the middle row), select the "Salex Tax Certificate of Exempt Status Search" option. Enter the 15-digit CES number, then click "Search" for results. Another way is by selecting "Search Account Number/Filing Frequency" under "Business" (1st box). Select "Sales and Use Tax" for the "Withholding or Sales and Use?" field. Choose "Wisconsin Tax Number" and enter the buyer's sales tax ID, Business Name or buyer's last name, and zip code. Click "Next" for results.

No online verification. Ensure that the buyer's resale certificate is filled out completely and accurately. Call the WY - DOR at 307-777-5200 to verify.