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by TaxJar December 10, 2025
If you buy products to resale in Washington DC, you can avoid paying sales tax on your purchase by using a Washington DC resale certificate. Always keep in mind that you should only use your resale certificate to buy items you intend to resale. Any other use of the resale certificate by an individual for a tax exemption is usually considered unlawful.
The District of Columbia provides resellers with an exemption certificate . If you wish to buy items for resale, fill out the entire certificate and present it to your vendor.
If you have an out-of-state resale certificate but try to buy an item tax-free in Washington DC, your DC vendor will be unable to accept your out-of-state resale certificate. To receive a sales tax exemption on an item in DC, you must register for a sales tax permit there .
Here’s a helpful resource on how to request and complete a Washington DC resale certificate online .
If you are a retailer with nexus in Washington DC and your buyer presents you with a resale certificate, you should do the following:
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