September 28, 2010
If you do not know your eleven digit tax I.D. number, it should be available through the following link provided by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: http://aixtcp.cpa.state.tx.us/exemptorgs/address.php?tp_id=
While churches are not automatically sales tax exempt (according to the State Comptroller’s office, only government agencies are tax exempt by statute), most churches are eligible for exemption but must apply to the Comptroller.
In 2000, when their web site was set up, the State Comptroller's Office required all Tax Exempt Organizations to submit proper documentation to the State Comptroller’s Office. We have discovered that many churches did not, and therefore are not reflecting the proper tax exempt status in their records. This is a very simple issue to clear up. Please contact the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts via email at tax.help@cpa.state.tx.us or call them at 1-800-252-5555 (463-4600 in Austin). Additional information about applying for sales tax exempt status can be found at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/exempt/