Sales Tax

Apply for Tax Exemption

If you qualify for a sales tax exemption, submit your certificate through our secure portal. You must have a validated certificate on file and be signed into your account to receive tax-exempt pricing.

If you're having trouble using our self-guided portal, please email your certificate to tax@polarwire.com

When does sales tax collection begin?

Polar Wire will begin collecting sales tax in March 2026 for orders shipped to Alaska, Washington, Illinois, and South Carolina.

Orders placed before the effective date will not be subject to the new sales tax collection. We will provide at least 30 days notice before adding any additional states to our collection requirements.

How do I avoid being charged sales tax?

To receive tax-exempt status on your Polar Wire account, you must:

• Submit a valid exemption certificate through our exemption portal before placing your order
• Be signed into your account when placing orders
• Have an active, validated certificate on file that covers the ship-to state. Submit your certificate through our self-guided portal or by emailing it to tax@polarwire.com

If you checkout as a guest or are not signed in, the system cannot verify your exemption status and sales tax will be applied.

What documents do I need for tax exemption?

The required documentation depends on your exemption type and the state where your order is being shipped. Our exemption portal powered by Avalara will guide you through selecting and completing the correct form for your situation.

What about Alaska? I thought there was no state sales tax.

Alaska does not have a state sales tax. However, we are required to collect local and jurisdictional taxes for certain municipalities within Alaska.

If you believe you are exempt from local taxes in Alaska, you must self-determine your exemption status and submit a Uniform Sales & Use Tax Resale through the same exemption portal.

Why do I need to be signed in to receive tax-exempt status?

Your exemption certificate is linked to your Polar Wire customer account. When you sign in, our system automatically checks for a valid, active certificate covering the ship-to state.

To ensure tax-exempt orders:

• Create an account or sign in before checkout
• Verify your exemption certificate is on file and validated
• Ensure the certificate covers the state you are shipping to

Will you be collecting sales tax in other states?

Currently, we are only collecting sales tax in the four states listed: Alaska, Washington, Illinois, and South Carolina.

As our requirements for collecting sales tax continue to evolve, we may be required to collect sales tax in additional states. We aim to provide at least 30 days notice before collecting sales tax in any new state.

Sign up for our notification list below to be alerted before we begin collecting in your state.

Who is Avalara and why are they involved?

Polar Wire has partnered with Avalara, Inc. to manage our sales tax compliance. Avalara is an industry-leading tax compliance company that:

• Collects and validates exemption certificates through their CertExpress portal
• Calculates accurate sales tax rates based on ship-to addresses
• Ensures compliance with state and local tax regulations

When you submit your exemption certificate through our portal, it goes directly to Avalara's secure system where it is validated and linked to your account.

Still Have Questions?

Our team is here to help with any questions about sales tax, exemption certificates, or your account status.