How to Get a Resale Certificate in Michigan

Suppose you’re starting a limited liability company (LLC) in Michigan and planning to sell goods subject to sales tax. In that case, you’ll need to get a resale certificate, or several of them, before doing business. 

But don’t worry; this guide lays out all you need to do to get a resale certificate in Michigan.

What Is a Resale Certificate?

If your LLC expects to sell tangible goods in Michigan, a resale certificate will enable you to purchase those goods without paying sales tax. This prevents your goods from being double taxed, as you will need to charge your customer’s sales tax when they buy the goods. 

If you purchase goods without paying sales tax and neglect to charge sales tax to customers who buy those goods, or if you fail to sell the goods, you and your LLC will be responsible for the sales tax and could face steep fines. 

If you purposely purchase an item not intended for resale, such as office equipment, and use your resale certificate to avoid paying sales tax, that’s tax fraud, a federal offense. In Michigan, the penalty for tax fraud is repayment of the tax owed plus a 100% penalty and potentially a $5,000 fine and five years in prison. 

Each resale certificate applies to only one vendor, so you’ll need one for each vendor. 

Suppliers and vendors do not have to accept resale certificates. However, a vendor might refuse a resale certificate because if your certificate is invalid, the vendor would be responsible for the sales tax.

How to Obtain a Resale Certificate in Michigan

To obtain a resale certificate, known as a certificate of sales and use tax exemption in Michigan, visit the Department of the Treasury website to download the form. 

Once you have the certificate, present it to your vendor and keep a copy for your records.

Does a Resale Certificate Expire in Michigan?

You can choose a blanket certificate on the form above with an expiration date, which means that date applies (maximum four years). A blanket certificate with an expiration should be used when there may be more than 12 months between sales transactions. 

This is best when the purchaser and seller anticipate more than one exempt transaction before the expiration date but have yet to have a recurring business relationship. 

Suppose you chose a blanket certificate for a recurring business relationship, meaning when not more than 12 months elapse between sales transactions between the seller and purchaser, you do not need to renew this blanket exemption as long as the recurring business relationship exists.

In Closing

In Michigan, a resale certificate is relatively easy to obtain yet provides significant savings. It will also help you and your LLC avoid potentially substantial penalties. 

Be sure to present the correct certificate to your vendors and keep track of expiration dates so your certificates are always current. You don’t want to find yourself paying sales tax when you don’t have to.