How to Get a Seller’s Permit in Colorado

  • Compliance
Learn how to register your business in the state and obtain a sales tax license in Colorado with our step-by-step guide.
Starting a business in Colorado is an exciting venture, but it’s crucial to understand the legal requirements that come with it. A common area of confusion for many new business owners is understanding the need for a Sales Tax License in Colorado, also known as a sales tax permit or seller’s permit. This permit allows you to collect sales tax on taxable products and services from customers in Colorado and remit it to the state.
This blog will guide you through each step of applying for a sales tax permit, with clear instructions to help you and your business begin collecting sales tax effortlessly.
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Who Needs a Seller’s Permit in Colorado?

A business must register for a sales tax permit in Colorado if: It is important to understand that Colorado is a home-rule state. This means that many of its cities and counties have the authority to set their own sales tax rates and regulations independently of the state’s rules. As of January 1, 2024, Colorado has a total of 66 home-rule cities and two home-rule counties (Denver County and Bloomfield County), which means businesses operating in multiple home-rule jurisdictions within the state might find it challenging to work around these regulations.
Colorado simplified sales tax permit regulations for remote sellers. Previously, businesses without a physical presence had to obtain separate licenses in each of Colorado’s home-rule cities. From July 1, 2022, these businesses can register statewide, avoiding the need for multiple local licenses with full effect on July 1, 2023.

How to Register for a Seller’s Permit in Colorado?

When applying for a sales tax license in Colorado, you can use the online application process on the Colorado Department of Revenue’s (CDOR) website to complete your sales tax registration.
 

1. Where to Apply for a Seller’s Permit in Colorado?

The first step to register for a sales tax permit online is to go to CO Revenue Online and navigate to the “Sales Tax License” section to start your process in applying for a sales tax license in Colorado. If you are an out-of-state seller with no physical presence, you will click on “Out-of-State Retailer Registration.” If you have a physical nexus within the state, you will click on “In-State Retailer Registration.”
You will then follow through the prompts that walk you through the registration process and provide the necessary information. When you get to the “Sites” section, it’s important to select all the locations you expect to sell or do business in Colorado. This step is essential because it determines the specific local areas where you’ll need to manage your tax filings, potentially across several jurisdictions.
During your registration process, you will also create an online user profile with the state of Colorado. Remember the credentials you input in the “Login Information” section. You will use them to log into your CO Revenue Online account.
 

2. What Information Do You Need to Get a Seller’s Permit in Colorado?

To successfully acquire a seller’s permit in Colorado, it’s important to prepare and provide specific information and documents. The following is a list of the necessary information and documents required to register a sales tax permit in Colorado:
  • Business Identification Information: Legal Business Name, Physical Address, Mailing Address 
  • Business Entity Structure (i.e., Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Subchapter S Corp., Corporation, LLC, etc.)
  • Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN or FEIN)
  • Name, Address, and SSN of Owners, Partners, or Officers 
  • Business Activity Details: Date & State of Incorporation, Nexus Start Date
  • NAICS Code
 

3. How Much are the Fees for Applying for and Renewing a Seller’s Permit in Colorado?

Registering for a sales tax permit in Colorado varies based on the time of application:
  • $16 for January-June and $12 for July-December in the first year, and
  • $8 for January-June and $4 for July-December in the second year.
Newly created accounts must also include a $50 deposit along with the application, refundable after the business has collected and remitted $50 in state sales tax. Businesses that sell only sales tax-exempt products may request a waiver of the deposit.
In Colorado, your sales tax permit needs to be renewed at the end of every odd-numbered year, meaning it expires on December 31st in years like 2023, 2025, and 2027, unless the Department of Revenue says otherwise. To renew, you can easily do it through the state’s Revenue Online website.
 

4. What are Other Ways to Register for a Seller’s Permit in Colorado?

  • Use TaxHero. Registering for a seller’s permit, mainly when it involves multiple permits, can be a tedious and time-consuming task requiring much effort. Let the experts at TaxHero save you from this hassle, and let us handle the registration process in all states where you have nexus as part of our all-inclusive sales tax service.
  • Paper Application: You will need to fill out Form CR 0100, attach the necessary documents, and mail them to the address provided in the form.
 

What’s Next?

Once you’ve submitted your sales tax application online, you’ll land on a confirmation page. This page not only confirms your sales tax permit request has been successfully submitted but also provides you with a unique confirmation code to access your application status.
Typically, processing your account takes about 24 hours. After your application is approved, you’ll receive an email that includes your Colorado Account Number (CAN), login details for your Revenue Online Account, and steps to follow for paying your License Fee and Deposit. Once you log in to your account, you will be able to see a copy of your sales tax license in Colorado as well as your filing frequency. A copy of your sales tax permit will also be sent to your mailing address.
Obtaining a Sales Tax Certificate requires you to collect sales tax on eligible sales in Colorado. Remember that if your business has a physical location in Colorado, the Seller’s Permit must be visibly displayed at all times at the place for which the certificate is issued.
If you ever encounter any difficulties, have any questions, or prefer TaxHero to manage these tasks on your behalf, don’t hesitate to reach out! Contact us today.