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Finance January 22, 2026

"US Freelancers: Navigating Sales Tax & Compliance"

"A guide to understanding State-level sales tax, exclusive pricing, and how to manage it all as a Solopreneur."

Freelancing in the USA: The Sales Tax Maze

If you are a freelancer in the United States, you know that "Sales Tax" isn't a single rule—it's 50 different rules. Unlike VAT/GST systems where a standardized rate applies nationwide, the US system is state-dependent, and sometimes even city-dependent.

Key Challenges for US Solopreneurs

1. Nexus: Determining if you have a sufficient physical or economic presence in a state requires you to collect tax. 2. Exclusive Pricing: In the US, prices are predominantly quoted *excluding* tax. You agree on $1000, and the invoice ends up being $1000 + Tax. 3. Variable Rates: New York might be 8.875%, while Texas is 6.25% (plus local rates).

How SparkyMinis Solves This

We built SparkyMinis with the US "Exclusive Tax" model in mind.

1. Flexible Tax Rates

You don't need to be stuck with one rate.
  • Go to: `Dashboard > Settings > Tax & Compliance`.
  • Create Chips: Add multiple chips like "NY Sales Tax (8.875%)", "CA Sales Tax (7.25%)".
  • Action: When you create an Invoice, simply select the chip relevant to your client's location.
  • 2. Exclusive Billing Toggle

    When you draft an invoice in SparkyMinis:
  • Enter your Base Amount (e.g., $1000).
  • Leave "Tax Inclusive" UNCHECKED.
  • The system adds the tax *on top* of your fee, so your net revenue remains $1000.
  • 3. Expense Tracking

    When capturing expenses (e.g., buying a laptop):
  • The receipt shows Total Paid.
  • Toggle "Tax Inclusive" ON.
  • SparkyMinis reverse-calculates the tax component so you know your actual pre-tax cost.
  • Configure Your US Tax Settings Now →
    S
    SparkyMinis Team Editor
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