Arkansas sales tax filing update July 2019

What's changing in Arkansas?

Arkansas passed a law requiring marketplaces to collect and remit sales tax on sales facilitated through the marketplace effective July 1, 2019.

  • Amazon, Etsy, eBay and Walmart began this collection on July 1, 2019.
  • You can view the state's guidance document here.

How does this affect my TaxJar settings?

If you sell through a marketplace that has agreed to begin collection in Arkansas, you'll see sales tax collected in Arkansas for sales on and after July 1, 2019 on your TaxJar Dashboard and on your Arkansas Transactions page.

  • If you have never set up a filing frequency for Arkansas in your account's State Nexus Settings, our system will default the state to a monthly frequency and due date on your Dashboard after we see tax collected there. (We default to a monthly frequency and due date if you haven't yet adjusted any frequencies on your end, but the state itself would ultimately determine your exact filing frequency.) 
  • If you are currently opted in to receive email reminders for your sales tax due dates, you'll also see Arkansas listed as a state where you have an upcoming monthly return due in those emails.

How does this affect my TaxJar report for Arkansas?

TaxJar updated your Arkansas sales tax report in August 2019 (when returns for sales after July 1, 2019 are due) to specifically reflect sales that had tax collected and remitted by Marketplaces that are supported as marketplace facilitators in TaxJar reports.

I have already registered for a license in Arkansas and all of my sales are marketplace-only sales. Should I cancel my existing registration?

No. If you are a marketplace seller who has already registered due to physical presence (such as inventory stored in your marketplace's warehouse), you have voluntarily registered, you should remain registered, according to the DOR.

Do I still need to file returns in Arkansas?

Yes. Once you register for a license, you will be required to file a return based on the frequency the state has assigned you.
  • If you've previously registered, the state expects you to remain registered and continue to file returns. 

If all my sales are marketplace sales, do I need to file a $0 return?

Yes. If your only sales are marketplace sales, the state still expects you to remain registered and file a return. 

Do I need to collect taxes on my Arkansas sales through other platforms?

Yes. If you have nexus in the state (physical or economic) and you make sales to customers in Arkansas on platforms outside of the marketplace that is automatically collecting and remitting, you will also need to collect tax on your end on the Arkansas orders that are processed on the other platforms.

I still need to file returns in Arkansas. How do I do this without paying double tax on the sales that were collected and remitted by my marketplace?

When filing your Arkansas sales tax return, please enter the net of gross sales - marketplace sales as the taxable sales.

  • For local reporting also enter the net taxable sales.
  • If using the "taxable sales worksheet" these would be "other legal deductions"