The Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) Certificate of Exemption is a standardized multi-state exemption form accepted by all 24 full member states of the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. Businesses that operate across multiple SST member states previously had to maintain a separate exemption certificate for each state — a compliance burden that required tracking different forms, formats, and renewal rules across dozens of jurisdictions. The SST certificate solves this with one uniform document recognized across all 24 member states. A single completed SST certificate can cover government entities, resellers, nonprofits, manufacturers, and other exempt buyers in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. ExemptDocs lets you fill the SST Certificate of Exemption free online in minutes. Our guided workflow ensures you select the correct exemption type, enter your registration numbers for each relevant state, and sign with a timestamped electronic signature. Once complete, send your certificate to any SST member state supplier directly from ExemptDocs — replacing up to 24 separate state forms with one.
The SST Certificate of Exemption is used by any business or organization purchasing goods or services tax-free in one or more of the 24 SST member states. Common users include:
If you only purchase in one state, that state's specific certificate may be sufficient. The SST certificate is most valuable when you buy from suppliers serving multiple SST member states.
The SST Certificate of Exemption is accepted by all 24 full Streamlined Sales Tax member states:
Important: Texas does not accept the SST Certificate of Exemption. For Texas purchases, you must use Form 01-339 (resale) or Form 01-931 (exemption). California, Florida, and New York are also not SST member states and do not accept this certificate.
The most common mistake is assuming the SST certificate works in all 50 states — it does not. It is only valid in the 24 SST member states. Using the SST certificate in Texas, California, Florida, or New York will result in a rejected certificate and potential back-tax liability. Another frequent error is leaving state registration numbers blank for states where you are making purchases: each member state requires you to provide your registration number for that state. ExemptDocs prompts you to enter each required number before submission and flags non-member states automatically.
No. Texas is not a member of the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board and does not accept the SST Certificate of Exemption. For tax-exempt purchases in Texas, businesses must use the Texas-specific Resale Certificate (Form 01-339) if buying for resale, or Form 01-931 if claiming a different exemption. ExemptDocs provides all Texas forms free online.
Generally yes. For resale exemptions, each SST member state where you make purchases typically requires your sales tax registration number for that state. If you do not have a registration in a particular state, you may still qualify for some exemptions (such as government or nonprofit) using your federal or home-state identifier. Check each state's specific requirements on the SST certificate instructions.
The SST certificate itself does not have a universal expiration date. However, individual member states may set their own rules on how long they honor a certificate before requesting renewal — typically 3–4 years. Some states require annual renewal. ExemptDocs tracks your certificate dates and alerts you when renewal is recommended for your active SST states.
Yes, that is the key advantage. A single SST Certificate of Exemption, when properly completed with registration numbers for all relevant states, is recognized by all 24 member states simultaneously. This eliminates the need to maintain 24 separate state certificates, dramatically reducing your compliance burden for multi-state purchasing.
Yes. The SST certificate supports multiple exemption types, including resale, government, nonprofit/charitable organization, manufacturer, and agricultural uses. Each exemption type may require slightly different supporting information. Select the correct exemption reason on the form and provide the required registration or identification numbers for each state.
An SST member state supplier should accept a properly completed SST certificate per the SSTGB rules. If a supplier rejects it, verify that you have entered the correct registration number for that state and that the exemption type is appropriate for that state's rules. You can pay the tax and apply for a refund from the state's revenue authority. ExemptDocs provides full documentation of your certificate issuance that you can present to the supplier or tax authority.