State-by-State Sales Tax Guide for Photographers
Know exactly what’s taxable. In 5 minutes.
Sales tax rules for photographers in all 50 states, from galleries and prints to sitting fees, travel and rates. In plain English, and updated as the laws change.
Get the guide · $27 See how it works
All 50 states · updated regularly · researched by Tiffany Bastian, IRS Enrolled Agent
Real messages
From photographers who use the guide.
Sound familiar?
The questions we hear every week.
“Do I need to charge tax on digital galleries?”
You’ve delivered hundreds of galleries and still aren’t sure.
“What if I shoot a wedding in another state?”
Destination work can mean a whole different set of rules.
“Is my sitting fee taxable? My travel? My albums?”
Your state’s tax website isn’t helping.
“What if I’ve been doing this wrong for years?”
There’s a shame-free way to fix it.
If you nodded at any of these, this guide is for you.
It’s not your fault. But it is your responsibility.
What most photographers don’t realize.
The rules exist, but they’re buried in government websites written in legalese. You didn’t become a photographer to master tax law, so I did the research for you.
You’re not exempt because you’re creative. Sales tax affects photographers in 45 states, even if you’re part-time.
Digital doesn’t mean tax-free. Many states tax online galleries, and the list grows every year.
Crossing state lines changes the rules. Each destination shoot can come with a different set.
The bill comes to you, not your clients. Tax you didn’t collect, plus penalties, is yours to pay.
In 5 minutes, you’ll know
Exactly what to charge, in all 50 states.
01
Digital galleries
Are your online galleries taxable in your state?
02
Prints and albums
Which physical products need tax, and which don’t.
03
Sitting fees
Is your time taxable, or just what you deliver?
04
Shipping
Whether to add tax when you ship an album.
05
Travel fees
When travel you bill clients is taxable too.
06
Tax rates
The rate to charge, state and local.
07
Registration
Where to go, what to file and how to set it up.
08
All 50 states
Your home state, or wherever you’re shooting next.
How it works
Three steps, five minutes.
Open the guide, find your state and get your answer. It’s the same guide our team uses with one-on-one clients.
Open the guide
Find your state, or the state you’re shooting in
Get a clear answer on everything you sell
Check back anytime: the guide is updated as laws change
Your guide
Hi, I’m Tiffany.
I’m an IRS Enrolled Agent with an MBA and more than 20 years in accounting, and I work only with photographers. Not real estate agents. Not restaurants. Just photographers.
After my 500th “do I charge tax on digital galleries?” conversation, I dug into the sales tax rules for every state, called state revenue departments, and turned it all into plain English you can read in minutes.
xo, Tiffany
Good to know
Questions? Quick answers.
I’ve been in business for years with no issues. Why worry now?
More states are taxing digital products and cross-checking registrations. The guide shows you where you stand today, so you can fix anything before it becomes a bill.
I only shoot in my home state. Why do I need every state?
You’ll know your own state inside out, and you’ll be ready the day a destination shoot comes up.
My accountant handles my taxes. Don’t they know this?
Most accountants are generalists. Very few have looked at how sales tax applies to sessions, prints and digital files. This is the same research our team uses for our own clients.
Is the guide up to date?
Yes. It’s updated regularly as state laws change, and every update is included with your purchase.
Ready when you are
5 minutes. Sales tax, sorted.
Know what’s taxable, what to charge and where to register in all 50 states, kept up to date as the laws change.