North Carolina Sales Tax License Revocation and
Business Shutdown Checklist
Introduction
A revoked sales tax license means the North Carolina Department of Revenue has terminated your legal authorization to collect and remit state sales tax. This enforcement action typically occurs after nonpayment of taxes, failure to file returns, or repeated compliance violations.
Taking prompt action helps you understand your obligations, settle outstanding debts, and complete the shutdown process correctly while avoiding additional penalties and legal consequences.
What a Sales Tax License Revocation Means
A sales tax license revocation is a formal administrative decision by the North Carolina
Department of Revenue ending your authority to operate as a sales tax collector. Your Sales and Use Certificate of Registration is no longer valid, which means you cannot legally collect sales tax on taxable sales or retail sales transactions. Your business may continue operating in other capacities, but you cannot collect statewide sales tax from customers during the revocation period.
Why the State Issues This Action
The North Carolina Department of Revenue revokes sales tax permits to enforce tax collection and compliance requirements established by the North Carolina General Assembly. Common triggers include unpaid sales tax debt, failure to file quarterly returns or other returns for multiple periods, bounced checks or payment failures, and ongoing violations of sales tax regulations.
License revocation prevents continued tax revenue collection and signals that the business must either cease taxable purchase activities or resolve its tax status.
What Happens If You Ignore This Issue
Continuing to collect sales tax after revocation is illegal and can result in criminal charges under
North Carolina General Statute 105-236. The state may pursue collection actions, place liens on business assets or personal property, and assess additional penalties and interest on outstanding debt. Business owners may face personal liability under responsible person statutes, and customers may become aware of the revocation, which can damage their business reputation.
Step-by-Step Checklist
Step 1: Review Your Revocation Notice or Proposed Revocation
Locate the written notice from the North Carolina Department of Revenue that revoked your sales tax permit or issued a Proposed Revocation. Read the entire document carefully, noting the specific reason for revocation, any deadlines mentioned, and the filing period or tax periods referenced in the notice.
Step 2: Determine Your Tax Filing Status
Contact the North Carolina Department of Revenue at 1-877-252-3052 to verify which sales tax periods are unfiled or unpaid. Request a complete statement of account showing total amounts owed, including any Proposed Assessment issued by the state, and document the date, representative name, and information provided.
Step 3: Gather Business Tax Records
Collect all sales tax returns filed for all periods that may have outstanding issues, along with business bank statements, sales records showing taxable sales, sales price documentation, and receipts. Locate any previous correspondence from the Division of Taxation and organize all records by tax period for easy reference.
Step 4: File Outstanding Sales Tax Returns
Determine which filing periods have unfiled returns and compile sales data to calculate taxes owed for each period. Complete Form E-500, the North Carolina Sales and Use Tax Return, for each unfiled period, and file all returns even if payment cannot be made immediately.
Step 5: Calculate Total Tax Debt
Request a formal statement of account from the Department of Revenue showing the exact total owed, including principal tax, penalties, and accrued interest. Review any Proposed
Assessment carefully and do not assume the amount without official confirmation from the state, as penalties and interest continue accumulating.
Step 6: Contact the Department About Payment Options
Call 1-877-252-3052 and explain that your Certificate of Registration was revoked and you want to resolve the outstanding debt. Ask about installment agreement options using Electronic funds transfer and whether penalties can be reduced or abated based on reasonable cause using
Form NC-5500.
Step 7: Submit Payment or Payment Plan Request
Note that installment payment agreements can only be established after receiving a Notice of
Collection from the Department of Revenue. If full payment is possible, submit it via Electronic
funds transfer, check, money order, or electronic methods available at the NCDOR website, including your sales tax registration number.
Step 8: Stop Collecting Sales Tax Immediately
Immediately cease collecting statewide sales tax from customers while your sales tax permit remains revoked, as collecting tax without an active Certificate of Registration violates North
Carolina law. Inform customers that you are addressing tax compliance issues and cannot collect sales tax during this period.
Step 9: Understand Appeal Rights and Deadlines
If you believe the revocation is incorrect, you may file a Request for Review with the Department of Revenue within the timeframe specified in your notice. For contested matters, you may request a Contested Case Hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings under G.S. 150B-45 or file a Petition for Judicial Review.
Step 10: Consider Closing Your Business Properly
Suppose you decide to permanently close operations, complete Form NC-BN, the
Out-of-Business Notification, to cancel your sales tax registration with the Business Registration
Division. File final quarterly returns for all filing periods through your closure date and notify local government agencies of your business closure as required.
Step 11: Notify Stakeholders About Your Status
If Closing Your Business, notify customers, vendors, and employees accordingly and complete all required documentation with the Division of Taxation. If continuing operations, inform relevant parties that you are working to resolve tax compliance matters and restore your Certificate of
Registration.
- Continuing to collect sales tax after revocation: Collecting state sales tax without an
- Failing to file returns while addressing payment issues: Filing quarterly returns is
- Not requesting written documentation: Always ask the Department of Revenue to
- Misusing exemption certificates during compliance issues: Do not attempt to use an
- Missing appeal deadlines for Proposed Revocation: If you receive a Proposed
- Using third-party websites for official transactions: Always conduct business directly
- State tax notice review and response
- Penalty and interest reduction options
- Payroll and trust fund tax assistance
- Payment plan and relief eligibility review
- Representation with state tax agencies
Step 12: Document All Actions Taken
Keep a dated record of every phone call, letter, payment, and action taken throughout this process. Maintain copies of all written communication from the Department of Revenue and store all receipts, confirmations, and agreements in a secure location for future reference.
Common Mistakes to Avoid active sales tax permit violates North Carolina law and can result in criminal penalties under General Statute 105-236. Stop collecting sales tax immediately and inform customers of your compliance status. separate from paying tax owed, and the state requires accurate filing records even when
payment is delayed. File all outstanding returns for each filing period promptly, even if you cannot pay the full amount immediately. provide written confirmation of payment plans, penalty abatements, Proposed
Assessment resolutions, or other decisions. Verbal agreements are difficult to verify later and may not be enforceable if disputes arise. exemption certificate or resale tax number to avoid sales tax obligations during revocation proceedings. Misuse of an exemption certificate carries separate penalties and can worsen your compliance situation with the state.
Revocation notice and want to contest it, you must file a Request for Review within the deadline specified. Missing this deadline may deprive you of your right to challenge the revocation through a Contested Case Hearing. with the North Carolina Department of Revenue through official channels and avoid third-party websites that may charge fees. Verify the authenticity of websites. Never provide credit card information to unverified sources claiming to represent the state.
Understanding Personal Liability for Business Owners
Under North Carolina General Statute 105-242.2, responsible persons, including officers, managers, members with tax duties, and certain partners, are personally liable for collected sales taxes. Personal liability also applies to uncollected sales taxes when the responsible person knew, or should have known, that the tax was not being collected. This extends beyond sole proprietors to include responsible parties in corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships.
Additional Considerations for Specific Business Types
Flea market vendors and businesses operating at specialty markets should note that sales tax registration requirements apply regardless of temporary or permanent location status. If you previously registered through the Flea Market, Specialty Market, or Other Event Information process, you must still resolve outstanding obligations before your Certificate of Registration can be reinstated or properly closed.
Received a State Tax Notice?
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