Adobe & Texas Sales Tax

[Rolland]

I am a full time professional photographer and member of TPPA and PPA.
Under Texas law I do not pay sales tax on things that are used to make the final product which is photograqphs in some form.

However, in Feburary I ordered Adobe Photoshop CS3 upgrade from Adobe and was told that I needed to pay the Texas state sales tax, I am not required by the state to pay this tax. I have sent in documents that were requested and all Adobe tells me is that they willl review everything and get back to me. It shouldn't take days for them to do this! It has now been 10 days since I last sent them a message.

It would be of benifit for all Texas professional photographers not to have to pay sales tax on imaging software ordered directly from Adobe.

[CobyPhoto]

Rolland,

I have never paid Texas State Sales tax on any of the Adobe products that I have purchased through them. Once you are set-up in Adobe's system as a manufacturer and exempt from sales tax, they you will be able to purchase directly from them without having to pay.

Adobe has certain requirements it has to meet as well. They have to be certain that you are tax exempt and that your certificate is current, (Not on hold, etc.) before extending you the purchase without tax.

Many companies have been pegged by the State Comptrollers office for allowing a customer to provide them without legitimate tax information and the company (not) the client ended up paying the tax...and the fine!

Just to clarify, ONLY that equipment that is used in the DIRECT LINE OF MANUFACTURE is tax exempt! Office computers, software, Office furniture (used in billing etc.) IS NOT tax exempt.

If I remember right, it took Adobe about 10 days to get my tax cert on file and my account set up for exemption so I could purchase without tax. I would just call them and ask the status.

CJ

[Rolland]

CJ,
Thanks for the information. I did call them again and my tax exempt status finally went through. Of course this only applies to imaging software and NOT other products that Adobe makes. As I am a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals I got a 15% off discount when I asked for it. So final cost with shipping was $175.10.
Thanks again,
Rolland