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Sales Tax Exemption Support

We understand sales tax exemption can be confusing. While we’re not tax advisors, our sales team is happy to guide you through the process and help you avoid delays.


We are required to collect sales tax on orders shipped to states where we have a legal obligation (called a nexus). Whether tax appears on your invoice depends on the delivery address and our status in that state.


Keep in mind:

Even if your business or organization is taxable, you might not see tax on your order if we don’t yet have nexus in that state. That doesn’t mean you’re exempt—you may still be responsible for reporting use tax to your state.

If your organization is exempt from sales tax and wants to avoid paying tax at checkout, you’ll need to submit a valid exemption certificate before placing your order.

This applies to:

  • Nonprofits and government agencies
  • Resellers and distributors
  • Schools, churches, and other organizations with state-recognized exemptions

We accept:

  • Certificates issued by the state’s Department of Revenue
  • Multi-state forms, such as the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA), if your state participates

Your certificate must:

  • Apply to the state of the delivery address
  • Be signed and unexpired

⚠️ If we don’t receive valid documentation before your order is placed, sales tax will be added to your invoice—even if your organization is normally exempt.

You have several options for submitting your sales tax exemption certificate, depending on how and when you're placing your order:


Option 1: Order Online with No Tax Charged

If you want to check out online without being charged sales tax:

  • You must be logged into your account
  • You must already have a valid, approved exemption certificate on file

Once that certificate is linked to your account, tax will automatically be removed at checkout—no extra steps needed.


Option 2: Start Your Order, Then Send Your Certificate

If you're not yet set up for online tax exemption:

  1. Add your items to your cart
  2. Email us your valid exemption certificate at sales@a-1awards.com
  3. We’ll review and approve it within 1–2 business days
  4. Once approved, we’ll update your account/cart and let you know when you can log in and complete your order without tax

This is a great option if you’re still getting your paperwork together or ordering on behalf of a new organization.


Option 3: Check Out Now and Request a Refund

If you’re ready to place your order but don’t have your exemption certificate approved yet, you can still move forward:

  1. Complete your order with sales tax included.
  2. Email your valid exemption certificate to sales@a-1awards.com as soon as possible.
  3. Once we receive and approve your certificate, we’ll refund the sales tax to your original payment method.

⚠️ Refund eligibility is based on our Terms of Use. The sooner you send your certificate, the better your chances of qualifying for a refund.

Option 4: Order by Phone and Send Your Certificate

Prefer to place your order with a real person? No problem:

  • Call us to place your order over the phone
  • Email your valid exemption certificate to your salesperson at sales@a-1awards.com
  • As long as we receive and approve your certificate before the order is processed, we’ll remove sales tax from your invoice

This is a great choice if you need help with product selection or want to confirm details live.

To avoid delays, please do not submit the following—these do not qualify as sales tax exemption certificates:

❌ Not AcceptedWhy
IRS 501(c)(3) lettersOnly apply to federal income tax—not sales tax
W-9 formsUsed for reporting income, not for sales tax
State nonprofit registrationsMay show nonprofit status but not tax exemption
Resale certificates from other statesMust match the delivery state
Sales tax licenses or permitsThese show you're authorized to collect tax—not exempt from paying it

A valid sales tax exemption certificate must:

  • Be issued by the Department of Revenue for the delivery state
  • Include your business or organization name
  • Clearly list A-1 Awards, Inc. as the seller
  • Be signed by an authorized person
  • Be unexpired

Some certificates do expire or require periodic renewal. We may request updated documentation at any time to stay in compliance.

If you’re from out of state and choose to pick up your order at our Indianapolis location, you may save on shipping—but please note:

Indiana sales tax will be charged at pickup unless you provide a valid Indiana sales tax exemption certificate in advance.

Even if your organization is exempt in your home state, we are still required by law to collect Indiana sales tax on all in-person pickups, unless we have a valid exemption form on file for Indiana.


To avoid this charge, please email us a signed Indiana ST-105 exemption certificate at least 1–2 business days before your pickup so we have time to review and approve it. Exemptions submitted at the time of pickup may not be processed in time to remove tax from your order.

We’re proud to call Indiana home. It’s the Crossroads of America, the birthplace of legends, and home to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway—where champions aren’t just celebrated, they’re made.


But even if the State of Indiana itself placed an order with us without a valid sales tax exemption certificate, guess what?


We’d still charge them sales tax.


Why? Because tax exemption isn’t automatic—not even for the folks who pave our roads and race on them.


By law, we have to collect sales tax unless a valid exemption form is on file when the order is placed.


No form, no exception. Not even for our home state.


So whether you’re a local legend or a customer across the country—nonprofit, school, reseller, or government agency—please send us the right certificate before placing your order.


We’ll handle the trophies. You handle the paperwork.

We’re happy to assist! Just email us at sales@a-1awards.com with:

  • Your business or organization name
  • Delivery state
  • Type of exemption (e.g., resale, nonprofit, government)

We’ll guide you to the exact form you need and help ensure everything is completed properly.


Find Your State's Department of Revenue

Below are links to the official Department of Revenue homepages for all U.S. states. These sites are the best place to locate the correct exemption certificate for your state:

If you’re stuck or unsure which form to use, just reach out. Our team can help you navigate the process—we just can’t complete the forms for you or provide legal tax advice.





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