How to File Arizona Sales Tax Online

Filing your Arizona sales tax return is simple with the state’s online system. You can file and pay directly through the AZTaxes.gov, as long as your business is registered to collect and remit sales tax.

This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of filing online so you can submit returns on time, avoid penalties, and stay compliant with Arizona’s sales tax rules.

What You Need Before Filing

Before you begin filing your Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) return on AZTaxes.gov, it’s helpful to have the following information and documents ready:

• Arizona Taxpayer Account Number (Sales Tax Permit) – You’re required to provide your Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license number to file your sales tax return. This is your official business tax number assigned by the Department of Revenue. Once your registration with the AZTaxes.gov is approved, you should receive this documentation via mail.
  This number can be found on your Arizona Sales Tax Permit document.
• AZTaxes.gov Account Log-in Details – The primary way to file your Arizona sales tax return online is by logging onto your AZTaxes.gov account. To access the site, ensure you have your log-in credentials ready (e.g., your username and password).
• Total Sales – Gather your total revenue during the filing period. This includes all sales, whether they’re taxable or not. Even if you currently have no sales records, you’re still required to file a return.
• Taxable Sales – Compile the total taxable sales your business made within the filing period.
• Taxable Purchases – Verify the total amount of taxable purchases your business spent within the filing period. This applies to both in-state and out-of-state transactions.
• Local Sales Tax Report – Arizona requires businesses to file a local sales tax report as well. This means you must list all your sales in each city, county, or other local jurisdiction in Arizona.
• Bank Account and Routing Number – Select which bank account you want to use for paying the due taxes in your report. Prepare your bank details and routing number ahead of time.
• Filing Frequency Schedule – The state assigns a specific due date for every registered business. To find out your designated schedule, you can check your Arizona Sales Tax Permit document.

Arizona refers to its sales tax as a Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT), which is a tax on the vendor for the privilege of doing business in the state, rather than a tax on the consumer.

The ADOR requires businesses to report the Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) by location. Businesses with more than one physical location in Arizona are required to file their tax returns electronically via AZTaxes.gov. This can be time-consuming for businesses with many physical addresses.

Step-by-Step: How to File Arizona Sales Tax Online

Filing your Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) return is a multi-step process on the AZTaxes.gov portal:

Step 1. Go to the State of Arizona Department of Revenue – Business User Login website.

Step 2. Enter your Account Credentials: Log in using your username and password. Check your shared email/phone number and input OTP, when applicable.

Step 3. Collect your Ecommerce Sales Tax Data (e.g., Taxes Report from Shopify). Step 4. On the dashboard, click Account Details for the tax account you want to file.   Step 5. From the left-side menu, select the type of tax you need to file.   Step 6. Choose the correct license number and filing period for the return.   Step 7. Enter the gross sales and any applicable deductions for each location based on your Ecommerce Sales Tax Report. Repeat this for all locations listed in your report, then click Continue.   Step 8. Enter any excess tax collected, if applicable, based on your report.   Step 9. Review all entered data carefully and compare it with your Ecommerce Sales Tax Report to ensure the figures match. If there are any fees or penalties, enter them as needed. Next, enter your license PIN, acknowledge the disclaimer, and click Submit.   Step 10. Click Make a Payment to proceed.   Step 11. Enter the required payment details, check the acknowledgement box, and click Continue. Step 12. Provide your payment account information, then click Continue to proceed.   Step 13. Click OK to confirm and finalize your payment. Step 14. Review and save the payment confirmation for your records. Step 15. Save the confirmation in your preferred location for recordkeeping purposes. Keeping online records using Google Drive is a common option.

Helpful tip: If the filing process is interrupted by internet issues, website downtime, or other disruptions. You can always click on “Save and Submit Later” to avoid losing your progress.

Due Dates

By statute, Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) returns are due on the 20th day of the month following the end of the reporting period. Here’s the complete information about the filing frequency and due dates in Arizona:

FREQUENCY	REQUIREMENT	REPORTING PERIOD	DUE DATE
Monthly	More than $8,000 estimated annual combined tax liability	Monthly	The 20th day of the month following the reporting period
Quarterly	$2,000 – $8,000 estimated annual combined tax liability	1st Quarter (January – March) 2nd Quarter (April – June) 3rd Quarter (July – September) 4th Quarter (October – December)	April 20 July 20 October 20 January 20
Annually	Less than $2,000 estimated annual combined tax liability	January 1 – December 31	January 20

However, the ADOR provides a significant grace period that varies depending on the method of filing.

• Electronic Filers: A return and payment are considered timely if the ADOR receives them on or before the last business day of the month. The transaction must be initiated before 11:59 p.m. MST on this date.
• Paper Filers: A return and payment are considered timely if the ADOR receives them on or before the third business day before the last business day of the month.

This difference in due dates is a clear incentive for electronic filing. Electronic filers not only receive a longer deadline but also the security of instant confirmation, which eliminates the risk of postal delays. The ADOR’s use of this due date structure is a strategic measure to encourage taxpayers to adopt the more efficient electronic system.

Timely Filing Discount

Some states offer businesses a discount for the timely collection, filing, and remittance of sales tax. In Arizona, a discount is allowed on timely reported sales tax.

A business that files and pays electronically can claim an accounting credit of 1.2% of the tax due, up to a maximum credit of $12,000 per calendar year. Paper filers are eligible for a 1% credit up to a maximum of $10,000 per calendar year.

Filing Amended Returns

To amend a previously filed Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) return, you can either use the same form and check the “AMENDED RETURN” box or, for electronic filers, log in to your AZTaxes.gov account and amend the return online. The amended form should include only the corrected numbers without using negative values.

You must complete all lines from the original return, even if some figures stay the same. This ensures the amended return fully reflects the updated filing.

If the amended return leads to a refund or credit, you must file it within four years from the original return’s due date or filing date, whichever is later. However, taxpayers cannot use an amended return to adjust estimated tax payments or change how those payments were applied.

Refunds

Refunds for an overpaid Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) can occur in two primary ways:

• from an amended return, or 
• from an overpayment on the account

If your business files an amended return that results in a lower tax liability, the state processes the overpayment as a refund.

If a business simply overpays its tax liability on a return, and there are no other outstanding liabilities, the ADOR’s system may automatically issue a refund. A business seeking a refund has a four-year statute of limitations to file its claim.

Filing Zero Returns in Arizona

All businesses with a Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license must file a return for each period, even if there was no taxable business activity. This requirement is strictly enforced, and failure to comply can lead to penalties.

The ADOR has a minimum penalty of $25 for a paper return, and this penalty applies even when the return reflects zero liability.

On the return selection screen, a business can select the “No Gross Receipts to Report” option and submit the return without entering any financial data.

Other Filing Methods in Arizona

If you’re having difficulties filing your Arizona sales tax return online, you can try other options.

• File with TaxHero – Let expert accountants in TaxHero prepare your sales tax returns for you. We’ll take everything off your hands so that you can spend your time more efficiently managing your business.

Let TaxHero Manage Your Arizona Sales Tax Returns

TaxHero doesn’t just handle your Arizona sales tax return, we manage filings across every state where your business has nexus, ensuring each return is filed accurately and on time at the frequency required.

This means you stay compliant nationwide without having to track multiple rules and deadlines yourself.

Don’t wait until the next deadline, schedule your demo today!