Course Outline
Join PRO

Are the sales taxes part of a retailer's sales?

Author:
Harold Averkamp, CPA, MBA

Definition of Sales Taxes

Sales taxes are likely state and local taxes collected by the sellers of specified goods and the providers of specified services. The sales taxes are paid by the ultimate consumer (as opposed to a company that will resell the goods) and is typically a percentage of the selling prices. The seller must file a sales tax report and remit the sales taxes it had collected.

Basically, the company making the sale and collecting the sales taxes is an agent for the state and local government. Therefore, the sales taxes collected are not part of the seller’s sales or revenues. This means the amount of sales taxes that were collected by the retailer will not be reported on its income statement. Instead, the sales taxes collected are reported on the balance sheet as a current liability until they are remitted to the government.

Explanation of Sales Taxes

Assume that all of a retailer’s products are subject to a state sales tax of 6%. If the retailer sells goods having selling prices of $500, it will collect $530 [$500 + (6% of $500)]. This will be recorded as follows:

  • Debit to Cash for $530
  • Credit to Sales Revenues for $500
  • Credit to Sales Taxes Payable for $30

Note that Sales Revenues did not include the $30 of sales taxes collected.

When the retailer remits the sales taxes to the government, the retailer will reduces its liability account Sales Taxes Payable with a debit entry for the amount remitted.

Join PRO to Track Progress
Must-Watch Video

Learn How to Advance Your Accounting and Bookkeeping Career

  • Perform better at your current job
  • Refresh your skills to re-enter the workforce
  • Pass your accounting class
  • Understand your small business finances
Watch the Video

Join PRO or PRO Plus and Get Lifetime Access to Our Premium Materials

Read all 2,645 reviews

Features

PRO

PRO Plus

Features
Lifetime Access (One-Time Fee)
Explanations
Quizzes
Q&A
Word Scrambles
Crosswords
Bookkeeping Video Training
Financial Statements Video Training
Flashcards
Visual Tutorials
Quick Tests
Quick Tests with Coaching
Cheat Sheets
Business Forms
All PDF Files
Progress Tracking
Earn Badges and Points
Certificate - Debits and Credits
Certificate - Adjusting Entries
Certificate - Financial Statements
Certificate - Balance Sheet
Certificate - Income Statement
Certificate - Cash Flow Statement
Certificate - Working Capital
Certificate - Financial Ratios
Certificate - Bank Reconciliation
Certificate - Payroll Accounting

About the Author

Harold Averkamp

For the past 52 years, Harold Averkamp (CPA, MBA) has worked as an accounting supervisor, manager, consultant, university instructor, and innovator in teaching accounting online. He is the sole author of all the materials on AccountingCoach.com.

Learn More About Harold

Certificates of
Achievement

Certificates of Achievement

We now offer 10 Certificates of Achievement for Introductory Accounting and Bookkeeping:

  • Debits and Credits
  • Adjusting Entries
  • Financial Statements
  • Balance Sheet
  • Income Statement
  • Cash Flow Statement
  • Working Capital and Liquidity
  • Financial Ratios
  • Bank Reconciliation
  • Payroll Accounting
Badges and Points
  • Work towards and earn 30 badges
  • Earn points as you work towards completing our course
View PRO Plus Features
Course Outline
Take the Tour Join Pro Upgrade to Pro Plus