Texas Sales Tax Exemptions

What is Exempt From Sales Tax In Texas?

The state of Texas levies a 6.25% state sales tax on the retail sale, lease or rental of most goods and some services. Local jurisdictions impose additional sales taxes up to 2%. The range of total sales tax rates within the state of Texas is between 6.25% and 8.25%.



Use tax is also collected on the consumption, use or storage of goods in Texas if sales tax was not paid on the purchase of the goods. The use tax rate is the same as the sales tax rate. Returns are to be filed on or before the 20th day of the month following the month in which the purchases were made. For example, purchases made in the month of January should be reported to the state of Texas on or before the 20th day of February.

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Texas Sales Tax Exemptions for Healthcare

Texas divides hospitals and healthcare facilities in to two categories for purposes of sales and use tax exemptions – nonprofit and for profit entities. The rules are straightforward for nonprofit hospitals and healthcare facilities because all items sold or leased to, or stored, used or consumed by organizations created for religious, educational or charitable purposes are exempt from Texas sales and use tax. For profit hospitals and healthcare facilities have more complex rules, but there are a number of categories of purchases which qualify for Texas sales tax exemptions. Some prominent exemptions include: hospital beds and replacement parts, intravenous or IV systems and their components, hypodermic needles and syringes, medical kits if the cost of the exempt items included in the kit are greater than the cost of the taxable items, medical oxygen and other drugs, prosthetic devices, labor charges and maintenance agreements for radiation emitting equipment such as x-rays, and orthopedic appliances and devices (for more information about what qualifies for the orthopedic Texas sales tax exemption please see our Research Bulletin written by our sales tax consultants about Texas Orthopedic Devices and Appliances Tax Exemption (aka Zimmer Ruling))

Texas Sales Tax Exemptions for Manufacturing

Texas offers broad sales and use tax exemptions for manufacturers. Machinery and equipment used in the production process qualify for sales tax exemptions within Texas. Repair parts and labor to qualifying machinery and equipment are also exempt. Consumables including lubricants and chemicals consumed during the manufacturing process are exempt if their use is necessary and essential to prevent the failure, decline or deterioration of exempt manufacturing equipment. Safety apparel or clothing used by employees during the manufacturing or processing of tangible personal property is exempt provided that the apparel or clothing is not sold to the employees and the manufacturing process would not be possible without the use of such apparel or clothing. Utilities consumed during production also qualify for an exemption, however a valid utility study conducted by an engineer must document the percentage of utilities consumed for exempt purposes on any meter with mixed taxable and non-taxable use. Agile Consulting Group’s sales tax consultants have a wealth of experience within the state of Texas and can ensure taxpayers are maximizing the benefit of Texas sales tax exemptions for which they qualify.

Sales Tax Compliance FAQs

Sales tax compliance can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be!

  • Do I have to charge sales tax?

    You do if your business is considered to be "doing business" within a state. The Supreme Court ruling in SD v. Wayfair on June 21, 2018 changed the standard by which this was determined. Now, if your business has a sufficient volume or revenues or transactions within a state, you have established nexus within that state. Nexus means you have to charge sales tax to your customers within that state.

  • How do we know if we have sales tax nexus in a state?

    Agile will complete a sales tax nexus study to determine in which states you have met or exceeded the nexus thresholds. All we need are your: a) physical locations, and; b) prior years sales records to analyze both revenues and transaction counts per state.

  • How do I know what sales tax rate to charge?

    Don't try to reinvent the wheel. There are a number of excellent sales tax rate software solutions in the marketplace and we are partners with ALL of them. Ask us for our input on which would be the best choice for your business and we'll gladly guide you and provide an introduction to one (or several options) available in the marketplace.

  • Are my products or services subject to sales tax?

    Well, the answer like most everything is sales tax is, "it depends," because each state drafts its own laws and they vary widely from state-to-state. A sales tax consulting firm, such as Agile, should perform a taxability study on the products and services your business sells in any states where you have nexus to determine whether you should be collecting sales tax on your sales of those products or services.

  • Which sales tax software is best for my business?

    There are a number of excellent choices in the sales tax software space. We are a sales tax consulting partner with ALL the available options in the marketplace. Leverage our years worth of firsthand experience with these options to help guide you to the best choice for your business.

  • How do I register for sales tax with a state?

    Agile can do this for you. Most states require the same information to process a registration. Things like: legal entity name, FEIN #, date of incorporation, etc. All states require the names, date-of-birth and social security numbers of officers. Some states will even require a copy of an officer's driver's license.

  • Should we register or file a voluntary disclosure agreement ("VDA")?

    Completing a registration will allow your business to begin collecting taxes going forward. If you have taxes from prior periods to disclose, a VDA will enable you to do so with the added benefit of the penalties being waived.

  • How do states determine your filing frequency?


    Your assigned filing frequency depends on the volume of transactions you have within a state. Many states will ask about your expected volume of sales during the registration (or VDA) process. Some other states will initially default your account to monthly filings. All states will re-evaluate your filing frequency on an annual basis.

  • Will Agile handle any notices and communications received from the state(s)?

    Yes! We will absolutely handle all notices and communications you receive from the state(s) regarding sales and use tax. We provide a comprehensive, turnkey solution to outsource your sales and use tax issues.

  • How do I determine my taxable sales?

    Determining taxable sales is the first, and most important step in determining your monthly sales tax filing obligations. Sales tax software, if properly configured, can solve or at least simplify this process. Combine that with an accurate matrix classifying your products or services taxability, and this becomes a cinch! 

Find the sales tax exemptions for your state

Select any state in the map below to view all relevant sales and use tax information available for that state.

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