Do I need a sales tax permit before making my first sale?

In Texas you generally need the permit before you make sales. The Comptroller's site says you must apply for a sales tax permit before you sell taxable items. But since you're online, it also depends on where your buyers are. If you're only selling in TX, then TX rules apply. If you sell to other states, nexus rules kick in ngl.

OP, just call the Comptroller's office. They're surprisingly helpful and won't bite. You can also check if your candles are even taxable—some states exempt certain items. But TX taxes most tangible personal property. Don't rely rely on random internet forums for legal advice, though. That's what I'm doing right now, ha.

I sell on Etsy and got my permit before my first sale. It was easy online and didn't cost anything. The bigger headache was figuring out filing frequency. They assigned me quarterly.

The permit itself is free in TX. You just have to file returns even if you have zero sales. That's the catch. So getting it early is fine, but don't forget the paperwrk.

Wait, you have to file even with no sales? That seems like a trap for new businesses. I'm in a different state but was thinking of expnading to TX. Good to know.

Some states let you file a zero return online, takes two minutes. Not sure about TX specifically. But yeah, it's a thing. Also, OP, if you're selling through a marketplace like Etsy, they might collect and remit tax for you. That changes things.

Marketplace facilitator laws are a whole other rabbit hole. If Etsy handles it, you might not not need a permit for those sales, but you'd still need one for your own website. Best to check with a CPA.

One more thing: they might ask for an estimated monthly revenue when you apply. Don't stress too much about it, just give a ballpark. You can update later, though.