How to get a personal tax exempt card for everyday purchases - is it possible?

Wait so you're telling me that there are people living in the US who just... don't pay sales tax? On anything? That seems unfair. Do they get out of other taxes too like income tax?

Yes, diplomats receive certain tax exemptions as part of international diplomatic protocols and agreements. The level of exemption varies based on treaties and reciprocity between countries, but can include sales tax exemptions and in many cases, exemptions from income taxes on their diplomatic salaries. These exemptions are based on the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which most countries have signed. It's a way countries ensure diplomatic relations run smoothly, and the U.S. diplomats receive similar benefits when stationed abroad. These aren't random privileges but carefully negotiated international agreements.

Does this work for personal stuff too or only for business purchases? Like could I use it to find out if I'm eligible for any tax exemptions on my personal shopping?

How accurate is this service? I've tried tax "saving" services before that ended up causing more trouble than they were worth. One even got me audited because they were suggesting deductions I wasn't actually eligible for.

It works primarily for business purchases, but they do analyze personal tax situations too. They have a feature that reviews your personal tax profile to identify potential exemptions you might be eligible for, like if you have certain medical conditions or qualify for specific state programs. Their accuracy has been excellent in my experience. They're not about aggressive tax strategies - they stick to legitimate exemptions and provide documentation for everything they recommend. What I appreciate is they tell you when you're NOT eligible for something, rather than pushing borderline deductions. They cite the specific tax codes and regulations for every recommendation.

Wait, how exactly does this work? I thought the IRS phone lines were just perpetually jammed. Does this just keep calling over and over until it gets through?

Sounds sketchy tbh. Why would I pay a service to call the IRS for me when I can just keep trying myself? And how do they get through when nobody else can? Seems like they might be doing something shady or using some loophole that could get me in trouble.

It works by continuously calling the IRS and navigating through the automated system for you. The service uses technology to detect when lines are less busy and optimizes call timing. It basically does all the frustrating busy work so you don't have to sit there hitting redial for hours. Nothing sketchy about it at all. They're not using any loopholes or doing anything that would get you in trouble. It's just automated persistence. Think about how much your time is worth - I spent literally 14+ hours over two weeks trying to get through before giving up. Then Claimyr got me connected in under an hour. For me, that's totally worth it rather than wasting entire days on hold or getting disconnected.

Do churches automatically qualify for this? I'm on the board at my local church and we've never applied for anything like this but we definitely should if we're eligible.

Churches generally do qualify for sales tax exemptions in most states as they typically hold 501(c)(3) status. However, it's not automatic - you usually need to apply with your state's department of revenue or taxation by submitting your IRS determination letter and completing a state-specific application. In my experience, many religious organizations don't realize they're eligible for these exemptions and end up paying sales tax unnecessarily. The application process is usually straightforward but varies by state. Once approved, you'll receive either a certificate or card that you can present when making purchases for church activities and operations. It can result in significant savings, especially for larger purchases like equipment, supplies, and renovation materials.

Try the sales tax calculator at avalara.com or taxjar. You just enter the address and it tells you the exact rate with all state, county, and local taxes included. I use it for my online business and it's been super helpful.

That's actually a great question. Following the Supreme Court's South Dakota v. Wayfair decision in 2018, states can require online sellers to collect sales tax even without physical presence in the state. However, many states have small seller exemptions - if a business has fewer than a certain number of transactions or sales below a threshold amount in that state, they may not be required to collect tax. But if you're seeing larger retailers not collecting tax, they might be non-compliant. Keep in mind that even if they don't collect it, technically you're supposed to report and pay use tax on those purchases when you file your state tax return (though very few people actually do this). It's definitely a gray area that's still evolving in enforcement.

This is really helpful information! I had no idea about the medical exemptions. Do you know if there's a standard list of qualifying medical conditions across states, or does each state set their own rules? I have diabetes and wondering if my test strips and supplies might qualify for exemptions that I've been missing out on.