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Amazon collects sales tax. What changes when I also sell on Shopify?

Updated 2026-07-13

Amazon collection for Amazon orders does not answer the same questions for your Shopify store. Treat the two sales channels separately before you continue your self-check.

Start by splitting the sales channels

For applicable Amazon marketplace orders, Amazon says it calculates, collects, remits and refunds sales tax based on the delivery location. That treatment applies to the Amazon order, not an order placed through your DTC storefront.

Your Shopify store is a direct channel. In a self-check, record its sales, inventory and relevant states separately. A tax calculation setting is not the same as checking those facts against the current state guidance.

Then check the two nexus paths

For direct-store sales, review each relevant state's economic-nexus test: the sales measure, period and any transaction test can differ by state. Do not apply one federal threshold; US sales tax rules are state-level.

Also review physical presence. Inventory, employees, warehouses and other in-state activity may matter independently of direct sales volume. If Amazon FBA or another fulfilment arrangement stores your goods in a state, include that state in the review.

Use a channel-by-state worksheet for your self-check

For every state connected to your business, keep four columns: Amazon marketplace sales, Shopify/direct sales, inventory or other physical presence, and the rule or filing status you have verified. This prevents marketplace figures from masking a direct-channel exposure.

If anything remains unclear, keep the worksheet with the official state guidance and confirm the state-specific facts before changing checkout tax or taking further steps.

Primary sources

This page is grounded in the primary materials below. Rules change, so open the source and confirm the current version before acting.

FAQ

Amazon collects tax. What should I note for Shopify sales?+

Amazon's marketplace collection concerns orders placed on Amazon. Record Shopify sales as a separate direct channel, then compare the relevant states and current official guidance during your self-check.

Can Shopify complete this self-check for me?+

Shopify can help calculate tax after you configure it, but it does not replace a review of your facts against each state's current guidance.

What should I check first?+

Separate Amazon and direct-store sales, list every state where you hold inventory, then compare direct sales and physical presence against each relevant state's current rules.

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This is a preliminary self-check, not tax advice. Decisions on registration, tax charging or collection, return filing and payment should be confirmed with a qualified professional. Questionnaire answers are used only to generate the result; see the Privacy Policy for details.