Guide · not tax advice
US sales tax on invoices
Sales tax is a state (and sometimes local) issue. InvoiceForge can print a tax percent on a USD invoice. It cannot tell you whether you must collect, what rate to use, or how to remit.
This page is general information for US freelancers, not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Rules differ by state, city, and what you sell. Confirm with your state department of revenue or a qualified professional.
Charging tax is not the same as owing income tax
Federal income tax (and self-employment tax) is about your profit. Sales tax is a separate consumer tax you may have to collect and pass through to a state. Putting a tax line on an invoice does not file anything.
Nexus, in one paragraph
Most states only expect you to collect sales tax if you have nexusthere — a connection such as a home office, inventory, employees, or, in many states, enough sales into that state. Living in one state and billing a client in another does not automatically mean you charge that client’s local rate. It also does not mean you never charge tax. The facts matter.
Services vs goods
Many states tax tangible goods more often than professional services. Design, writing, and consulting are exempt in some states and taxable in others. Digital products and SaaS have their own categories. Do not copy a friend’s rate.
If you do collect, show it clearly
- List the taxable amount (InvoiceForge applies tax after the discount)
- Show the rate and the tax amount as their own lines
- Keep the total in USD
- Register, collect, and remit on the state’s schedule — the PDF is only a record
On the free invoice generator, use the Tax % field for the combined rate you have determined you must charge. Leave it at 0 if you are not collecting sales tax on that invoice.
Resale and exemption certificates
If a client is buying for resale or is exempt, they may give you a certificate. Keep that file. You still send an invoice; you may show $0 tax because they documented the exemption, not because the field is inconvenient.
What InvoiceForge will not do
- Look up rates by ZIP
- File returns or talk to a state portal
- Decide nexus or product taxability
- Store your invoices in the cloud
It is a calculator and a PDF printer that runs on your device. That is the point.