business and economy | January 20, 2026

Do I need a resale certificate in Illinois?

Illinois businesses may purchase items tax free to resell. Sales tax is then collected and paid when the items are sold at retail. To document tax-exempt purchases of such items, retailers must keep in their books and records a certificate of resale. Certificates of Resale should be updated at least every three years.

How do I fill out a resale certificate in Illinois?

The certificate should include:

  1. The seller’s name and address.
  2. the purchaser’s name and address.
  3. a description of the items being purchased for resale.
  4. purchaser’s signature, or the signature of an authorized employee or agent of the purchaser, and date of signing.

Do I need a resale certificate to sell online in Illinois?

Illinois requires that you register for a sales tax permit before you make any sales or purchases for resale, or when you hire an employee. 2. How do you register for a sales tax permit in Illinois? Sellers can register online through MyTaxIllinois or mail in form REG-1 to the address specified on the form.

How do I get a tax exempt certificate in Illinois?

You send a cover letter to the IL Department of Revenue, written on your organization’s letterhead, requesting the tax exemptions. Include with the letter copies of the charity’s articles of incorporation, bylaws, IRS letter granting tax-exempt status, an explanation of the charity’s activities and goals.

What is the difference between retailer and reseller?

A reseller will buy a huge amount of goods for resale and make a big profit, a retailer purchasing goods from a manufacturer that he will then sell on to his customer for a marked up price.

What is a rot Reseller in Illinois?

The Illinois Retailers’ Occupation Tax (ROT) is a portion of the sales tax that is imposed on Illinois sellers of tangible personal property. For remote sellers, the state tax rate is referred to as “use tax” and for intrastate sellers, “ROT” simply means sales tax.

How long are Illinois tax-exempt letters good for?

three years
How long is my Illinois sales tax exemption certificate good for? The period of time in which the exemption certificate is considered to be valid varies depending on the user, but blanket certificates should be updated every three years.

How does a certificate of resale work in Illinois?

If your business is responsible for paying sales taxes on these types of items, an Illinois Certificate of Resale allows your business to purchase these goods tax free and then resell them, with the sales tax paid by the buyer. Before you can use a resale certificate, you must register your business with the state.

Do you have to pay sales tax on resales in Illinois?

When a business purchases inventory to resell, they can do so without paying sales tax. In order to do so, the retailer will need to provide an Illinois Certificate of Resale to their vendor. Learn more about what a resale certificate is, how to get one and more.

How is sales tax paid on a certificate of resale?

Sales tax is then collected and paid when the items are sold at retail. To document tax-exempt purchases of such items, retailers must keep in their books and records a certificate of resale. Purchasers may either document their tax-exempt purchases by completing Form CRT-61, Certificate of Resale, or by making their own certificate.

Do you have to show sales tax certificate in Illinois?

Instead, a retailer must confirm that the purchaser has a valid registration or resale number at the time of purchase. If a purchaser fails to provide a certificate of resale at the time of sale in Illinois, the seller must charge the purchaser tax.