Kansas: Sales Tax Handbook
Kansas Sales Tax Rate
| State Sales Tax | Local Sales Tax Range | Average Local Tax | Average Combined Tax | Max Combined Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5% | 0% - 5% | 2.067% | 8.568% | 11.5% |
2024 Kansas Sales Tax Handbook
Kansas Table of Contents
- List of Local Sales Tax Rates
- Sales Tax Calculator
- Sales Tax Exemption Certificates
- Sales Tax Info For Businessowners
- Taxable vs. Non-Taxable Purchases
- Sales Tax on Cars & Vehicles
- More Information
Kansas' Sales Tax By The Numbers:
Kansas has a higher-than-average sales tax, including when local sales taxes from Kansas's 531 local tax jurisdictions are taken into account.
Rankings by Average State + Local Sales Tax:
Ranked 9th highest by combined state + local sales tax
Ranked 11th highest by per capita revenue from state + local sales taxes ($1,291 per capita)
Rankings by State Sales Tax Only:
Ranked 5th highest by state sales tax rate
Ranked 12th highest by per capita revenue from the statewide sales tax ($1,003 per capita)
Printable PDF Kansas Sales Tax Datasheet
Kansas has a statewide sales tax rate of 6.5%, which has been in place since 1937.
Municipal governments in Kansas are also allowed to collect a local-option sales tax that ranges from 0% to 5% across the state, with an average local tax of 2.067% (for a total of 8.568% when combined with the state sales tax). The maximum local tax rate allowed by Kansas law is 4%. You can lookup Kansas city and county sales tax rates here.
This page provides an overview of the sales tax rates and laws in Kansas. If you are a business owner and need to learn more about things like getting a sales tax permit, filing a sales tax return, or making tax-exempt purchases for resale see the Kansas Sales Tax Handbook's Table of Contents above.
What is exempt from sales taxes in Kansas?
Many states have special sales tax rates that apply to the purchase of certain types of goods, or fully exempt them from the sales tax altogether. Here's how Kansas taxes five types of commonly-exempted goods:
Clothing
6.5%
Groceries
6.5%
Prepared Food
6.5%
Prescription Drugs
6.5%
OTC Drugs
6.5%
For more details on what types of goods are specifically exempt from the Kansas sales tax see Kansas sales tax exemptions. To learn more about what types of transactions are subject to the sales tax to begin with, see what purchases are taxable in Kansas? Taxation of vehicle purchases in particular are discussed in the page about Kansas' sales tax on cars.
Are services subject to sales tax in Kansas?
"Goods" refers to the sale of tangible personal property, which are generally taxable. "Services" refers to the sale of labor or a non-tangible benefit. In Kansas, specified services are taxable.
About the Kansas Sales Tax
The state of Kansas has a relatively simple sales tax. However, in addition to the flat state tax rate, there are county tax states, special district tax rates, and local city tax rates, which will vary significantly depending on which jurisdiction you are in.
It is worth noting that Kansas is considered to be a Streamlined Sales Tax State, which means that the state has simplified taxation procedures in order to encourage out of state retailers to collect tax from Kansas residents purchasing goods online.
Is the Kansas Sales Tax Destination-Based or Origin-Based?
Kansas is a destination-based sales tax state, which means that sales tax rates are determined by the location of the buyer when the transaction is completed. This means that, for orders placed via the internet/mail by a customer within Kansas from a Kansas vendor, the vendor must collect a sales tax rate applicable at the buyer's address (including any applicable local sales taxes). This can significantly increase the complication of filing your sales tax return, because different sales tax rates must be charged to different buyers based on their location.
Is Kansas a Streamlined Sales Tax State?
Kansas is a member of the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, which means that the Kansas Department of Revenue has taken significant steps to simplify Kansas's sales tax rules and administration process.
Contact the Kansas Department of Revenue
The Kansas Sales Tax is administered by the Kansas Department of Revenue. You can learn more by visiting the sales tax information website at www.ksrevenue.org.
Phone numbers for the Sales Tax division of the Department of Revenue are as follows:
- Local Phone: (785) 368-8222
Learn More: Our Book Recommendations
If you would like to learn more about how to manage your Kansas sales taxes, we recommend the following books:
Small Business Taxes For Dummies
This introductury book assists both current and aspiring small business owners with important tax planning issues, and covers a wide variety of small business tax topics.
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A Guide to Sales and Use Tax
This book provides information and insights on how to comply with a multitude of sales and use tax laws and regulations. This is our recommendation if you need an in-depth look into sales taxes.
Buy on AmazonSimplify Kansas sales tax compliance! We provide sales tax rate databases for businesses who manage their own sales taxes, and can also connect you with firms that can completely automate the sales tax calculation and filing process. Click here to get more information.
Kansas Sales Tax Rates by Zip Code:
Need an updated list of Kansas sales tax rates for your business? Download our Kansas sales tax database!