If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “Wait…I’m a photographer. I don’t sell products, so I don’t need to deal with sales tax, right?,” you’re not alone. This is one of the biggest myths new photographers believe, and it can cost you a lot if you’re not careful. That’s why I’m kicking off a four-part video series all about sales tax basics for photographers—starting with this first video: Do Photographers Have to Charge Sales Tax?

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

This week’s video breaks down exactly when photographers do need to charge sales tax and why not charging it (even by mistake!) could leave you responsible for the cost out of your own pocket.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• What sales tax actually is and how it works in your business
• Common misconceptions about when it’s required
• What types of products or services often trigger sales tax
• The three key factors that determine whether you need to charge it: what you deliver, where you live, and how you deliver it

Why This Matters for Your Photography Business

Each state has its own rules, and it’s easy to assume something is “not taxable” just because someone else said it wasn’t for them. But in reality, sales tax laws can vary wildly. By understanding the ins and outs early on, you’ll avoid costly mistakes—and gain peace of mind.

Watch the full video below to find out if you’re handling sales tax correctly in your business. 

And don’t forget—this is just week one of the Sales Tax Basics for Photographers series. Next week, we’ll dive deeper into what’s actually taxable in your state.

Let’s make taxes suck less—together!

XOXO – Heather

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And don’t forget to grab the Make Taxes Suck Less Course: A Beginner Photographer’s Guide to Taxes. It includes everything you need to confidently navigate the complexities of business taxes as a photographer.

Let’s make this the year you take control of your business finances!

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Let’s Prep for Tax Season – Together

Keep more of what you make inside of your business with these 5 key deductions for photographers. I’m sharing all inside of my free class — Maximizing Your Tax Deductions as a Photographer!

Make tracking your numbers easy with my Tax Prep Spreadsheet and ensure that tax season is a breeze.

Transform your passion into a thriving business and unlock success for your photography business with my free guide to setting goals for the first year of your photography business.

Mastering your business taxes starts with understanding the different tax categories. Grab my free tax category guide to take the first step towards stress-free taxes today.

Want taxes to suck less? Learn how to correctly prepare your taxes for your accountant with the Photographer Tax Course – and say hello to a confident and calm tax season!

Don’t know what you don’t know? You’re just 90 minutes from a custom tax prep system with my 1:1 Tax Prep Mentoring sessions!

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Other Recent HMP Blogs:

What Tax Forms Do Photographers Need to File? A Beginner’s Breakdown
Understanding Self-Employment Taxes as a Photographer