# How to Get a Seller's Permit in California Canonical: https://trykintsugi.com/blog/how-to-get-a-sellers-permit-in-california Published: 2026-09-29 Who needs a California seller's permit, how to apply free with the CDTFA, what to have ready, and what you owe after. Steps from the CDTFA's own guide. To get a seller's permit in California, register online with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). The permit is free. You need one if you are engaged in business in California and plan to sell or lease physical goods that would normally be subject to sales tax. This guide follows the CDTFA's publication 73, *Your California Seller's Permit* (January 2026 edition), and its online registration page, checked on September 29, 2026. Sources are listed at the end. ## What is a California seller's permit? A seller's permit is the registration that lets you collect and report sales tax in California. People also search for it as a sales tax permit, seller's license, or sales permit, but the CDTFA's official name is the seller's permit. Both wholesalers and retailers must have one. ## Who needs a California seller's permit? You must get a seller's permit if you: - are engaged in business in California, and - intend to sell or lease tangible personal property that would ordinarily be subject to sales tax if sold at retail. That covers individuals, partnerships, LLCs, corporations, and other business types. ### Do out-of-state sellers need one? Possibly. The CDTFA says you are engaged in business in California, even if you are located elsewhere, if you: - keep or use an office, warehouse, storage place, or other physical place of business in California; - have a representative, agent, or salesperson operating in California for you; - receive rental payments from personal property located in California; - own or lease real or personal property in California, such as equipment or a computer server; or - exceed **$500,000** in combined California sales of tangible personal property, by you and all people related to you, in the preceding or current calendar year. The CDTFA notes that other activities can also count, and tells sellers who are unsure to call its Customer Service Center at 1-800-400-7115. If you would like the wider picture, see our explainer on [economic nexus](/blog/explaining-what-is-economic-nexus-simplified). You do not need a permit if all of your sales are made in interstate or foreign commerce. But if you make sales both inside and outside California and keep stock in the state, you need at least one permit, and you need permits for California warehouses or storage places used to fulfill orders, even when the goods ship out of state. ## What you need before you apply Have this ready, depending on your business type: - Social Security number (corporate officers excluded) - Driver's license or another accepted ID, such as a passport - Email address for the business - Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) - For corporations: corporate name, corporate number, and state of incorporation - Name, address, and phone number of partners, officers, members, or managers - Names and phone numbers of personal references - Names and addresses of your suppliers - Your bank and merchant credit card processor, and the person who keeps your books ## How to get a seller's permit in California 1. Go to the CDTFA's [online registration](https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/registration.htm) page and start a new registration. 2. Answer the questions about your business activities. The system uses your answers to identify which permits and licenses you need. 3. Enter the details above for each owner and business location. Your progress saves at each step, so you can stop and continue later. The CDTFA deletes applications left incomplete after 30 days. 4. Submit the application, then follow its status online. The CDTFA also emails you updates. You can also register in a CDTFA office or get help by phone at 1-800-400-7115. ## How much is a California seller's permit? It costs nothing. The CDTFA says the permit is free, though it may require a security deposit in some situations, such as when the law requires one, if a permit was revoked, or if you have a history of nonpayment. ## Temporary seller's permits If you plan to sell only for a short time, such as Christmas tree or rummage sales, you must apply for a temporary seller's permit. These are normally issued for selling operations lasting no longer than 30 days at one location. ## More than one location If you have more than one place of business, you can get a separate permit for each address. It is generally possible to get one consolidated permit for several locations, so list every location when you apply so the CDTFA issues the right type. ## After you have your permit - **You file returns.** When you get your permit, the CDTFA tells you whether to file monthly, quarterly, quarterly prepay, fiscal annual, or annual. A return is due after the close of each reporting period. For example, if your period closes on June 30, the return and payment are due July 31. Businesses with average taxable sales of $17,000 or more a month are required to make prepayments, and the CDTFA notifies you in writing if that applies. Late returns and payments accrue interest and penalties. See our guide to [filing California sales tax online](/blog/how-to-file-california-sales-tax-online). - **You keep records.** As a permit holder you must report and pay sales and use tax and keep adequate records. - **You tell the CDTFA about changes.** Notify it of a new address, a change of ownership, or if you sell, buy, or close a business. Incorporating or forming a partnership or LLC counts as a change of ownership. - **The permit lasts only while you are in business.** If you stop selling, contact the CDTFA to cancel it. ## Seller's permit vs. resale certificate They are different things. A seller's permit registers you to collect and report tax. A resale certificate is a document you give a supplier so you can buy goods you plan to resell without paying sales tax, and it includes your seller's permit number. See our page on [California resale certificates](/resale-certificates/california). ## After California: the other states A California permit covers California only. Many sellers cross economic nexus thresholds in other states as they grow, and each state has its own registration. Kintsugi's free plan monitors your sales across every US state so you know where you need to register, and when you do, Kintsugi registers, files, and remits for you. Filing starts at $75 per filing or registration, with no per-state subscription. See [pricing](/pricing) or [start free](https://auth.trykintsugi.com/en/signup). For California rates, see the [California sales tax guide](/sales-tax-guides/usa/california) and the [California sales tax calculator](/us-sales-tax-calculator/california). For the general steps in any state, read [what a sales tax permit is](/blog/sales-tax-permit). This guide is educational information, not tax advice. Whether you need a permit depends on your business and where you sell, and the CDTFA's rules can change. ## California seller's permit FAQs ### Do I need a seller's permit to sell online in California? Yes, if you are engaged in business in California and intend to sell physical goods that would ordinarily be subject to sales tax. Out-of-state sellers are engaged in business in California if they have a physical presence or representatives there, or exceed $500,000 in combined California sales in the preceding or current calendar year. ### Is a California seller's permit free? Yes. The CDTFA does not charge a fee for the permit. It may require a security deposit in some circumstances, such as if a permit was revoked or you have a history of nonpayment. ### Can I get a temporary seller's permit in California? Yes. If you plan to sell only for a limited time, such as at a seasonal or one-off event, you apply for a temporary seller's permit. These are normally issued for operations lasting no longer than 30 days at one location. ### What is the difference between a seller's permit and a resale certificate? The seller's permit registers you with the CDTFA to collect and report sales tax. A resale certificate is a form you give a supplier to buy inventory for resale without paying tax, and it includes your seller's permit number. ## Sources Checked September 29, 2026: - [Your California Seller's Permit (publication 73, January 2026)](https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub73.pdf), for who needs a permit, "engaged in business," the information you provide, fees, temporary permits, filing basis, prepayments, and your obligations. - [CDTFA online registration](https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/registration.htm), for how to register, what you need, and how progress is saved.