Filing your Kansas sales tax return is simple with the state’s online system. You can file and pay directly through the Kansas Department of Revenue’s (KDOR) specialized filing portal, the KDOR Customer Service Center (KCSC), as long as your business is registered to collect and remit sales tax.
This guide walks you through the step-by-step process of filing online so you can submit returns on time, avoid penalties, and stay compliant with Kansas’s sales tax rules.
What You Need Before Filing
Before filing your sales tax return, you must prepare specific records to ensure your report is accurate. Here are the standard documents and information required to file a sales tax return in Kansas.
- Kansas Taxpayer Account Number (Sales Tax Permit) – Retailers are legally required to provide their Kansas sales and use tax account number to file their return. The state assigns this unique identifier when it approves the initial Business Tax Application (Form CR-16). The Tax Account Number is necessary for linking the electronic filing within KCSC to the correct business entity. You must write this identifier on any physical checks or money orders you submit for payment. You can find this number on your Kansas Sales Tax Permit document.
- KDOR Customer Service Center (KCSC) Account Log-in Details – The KCSC is the definitive portal for filing Form ST-36. To ensure successful access, retailers must verify that their KCSC login credentials (username and password) are ready. A broader state authentication system, such as KanAccess, may link to the KCSC. Electronic filers must secure these credentials to navigate the secure online system where sales tax returns are prepared and submitted.
- 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 – Kansas requires businesses to file a local sales tax report. This means you must list all your sales in each city, county, or other local jurisdiction in Kansas.
- 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 in advance.
- Filing Frequency Schedule – The state assigns a specific due date for every registered business. To find your designated schedule, check your Kansas Sales Tax Permit document.
Step-by-Step: How to File Kansas Sales Tax Online
Step 1. Go to the Kansas Department of Revenue – Customer Service Center website. Step 2. Enter your Account Credentials: Log in using your username and password. Check your shared email/phone number and enter the OTP when applicable.
Step 3. Prepare your Ecommerce Sales Tax Data (e.g., Taxes Report from Shopify).
Step 4. Select the correct filing period and return type, then click Continue.
Step 5. Enter the sales amounts for each county or city according to your tax report, then click Continue.
Step 6. Review all entered information to ensure everything is accurate, then click Submit.
Step 7. Enter your bank information and then click Next.
Step 8. 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
Kansas bases its due dates and filing frequencies on tax liability, but keeps the same due date across all cycles. All sales tax returns, regardless of whether they are monthly, quarterly, or annual, are due on or before the 25th day of the month following the end of the reporting period.
The Kansas Department of Revenue reviews each business’s reporting history every year to determine the appropriate filing frequency based on the amount of tax liability the business incurred in the previous calendar year. Changes in filing frequency determinations typically take effect on January 1st of the upcoming calendar year.| FREQUENCY | REQUIREMENT | REPORTING PERIOD | DUE DATE |
| Monthly | $5,000.01 and over in annual tax liability | Monthly | 25th day of the month following the reporting period |
| Quarterly | $1,000.01 – $5,000 in annual tax liability |
|
|
| Annually | $0 – $1,000 in annual tax liability | January – December | January 25 |
Timely Filing Discount
Some states offer businesses a discount for collecting, filing, and remitting sales tax on time as an incentive to process sales tax promptly. However, Kansas does not offer a discount.Filing Amended Returns
Kansas statute allows taxpayers who discover inaccuracies in a previously filed return to submit an amended return.Procedure for Amending an ST-36 Return
- Use Original Form Type: You must submit the amended filing using the same type of form you originally used for that period. If you originally filed electronically through KCSC, you should follow the electronic amendment procedure.
- Mark as Amended: Whether you file electronically or by paper, you must mark the designated box with an ‘X’ to show it is an “Amended Return.”
- Complete the Entire Form: The amended document must show the final, corrected figures for the entire tax period, not just the changes.
- Include Explanation and Documentation: The submission must include a clear, written explanation detailing the nature of the change and identifying the period and location involved. Supporting documents, such as copies of relevant invoices or exemption certificates, must also be attached.
- Accounting for Previous Payment: When filing the amended return online, filers must ensure they use Part I, Line 4 (Credit memo), accurately. This line is used to enter the total amount previously paid for that filing period, allowing the system to correctly compute any resulting overpayment or additional liability.
Filing Zero Returns in Kansas
A core component of Kansas tax compliance is continuous reporting. Even if a registered business has not conducted any taxable sales or had no activity during a specific filing period, it is strictly mandatory to file a return known as a zero return. Failure to submit a zero return can lead to non-filer penalties being assessed against the business.Other Filing Methods in Kansas
If you’re having difficulties filing your Kansas 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.
- File by Paper – Although mandatory electronic filing is required for new returns, paper Form ST-36 remains available for certain limited circumstances, such as when a taxpayer prefers to submit an amended return by mail. Any paper form must be completed in full and mailed to the designated KDOR address: Tax Operations PO Box 3506 Topeka, KS 66625-3506
- File by Streamlined Sales Tax Registration System (SSTRS) – Kansas is an associate member of the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. Businesses engaged in multi-state commerce, particularly marketplace facilitators that meet Kansas’s economic nexus threshold ($100,000 in gross receipts), may choose to use the SSTRS for registration and filing. This system is designed to simplify registration and compliance across multiple member states, offering a streamlined approach to handling the complex reporting requirements of Kansas and other jurisdictions.