The UST 1 Ohio form is the Universal Sales Tax Return required for taxpayers who have received permission from the Ohio Department of Taxation to file by paper. This form allows you to report taxable sales and calculate the sales tax due for various counties in Ohio. To ensure compliance and accuracy, follow the provided instructions carefully.
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The UST 1 Ohio form is a crucial document for businesses operating within the state, allowing them to report and remit sales tax accurately. Designed specifically for taxpayers who have received permission from the Ohio Department of Taxation to file by paper, this form streamlines the process of reporting taxable sales across various counties. When filling out the UST 1, businesses must provide details such as the total amount of taxable sales made, the corresponding county codes, and the tax liability for those sales. Notably, it’s important to differentiate between various types of sales, such as exempt sales and sales of motor vehicles, which have specific reporting requirements. The form includes a series of steps that guide users through the completion process, from calculating gross sales to determining any applicable discounts or additional charges. Furthermore, businesses need to be aware of the deadlines for submission and the consequences of late filings, including potential penalties. Understanding how to navigate the UST 1 form is essential for maintaining compliance with Ohio tax laws and ensuring accurate tax reporting.
hio
Department of Taxation
Rev. 12/19
Ohio Universal Sales Tax Return (UST 1) Instructions
Note: This return is only to be used by taxpayers that have
been granted permission by the Ohio Department of Taxation to file by paper. All other filers must file electronically through Ohio Business Gateway at gateway.ohio.gov or Ohio TeleFile at
1-800-697-0440.
Sales tax is generally collected at the rate in effect in the county where the consumer takes possession of the item sold or receives the benefit of the service performed. However, see Ohio Revised Code 5739.033. While most sales occur at the vendor’s place of business, some taxable transactions may occur in a county different from the vendor’s place of business. These instructions will guide you through the process of filing a return that covers many taxing jurisdictions.
STEP 1: Complete the back of Ohio UST 1 (short) or pages 2-4 of Ohio UST 1 (long).
County name – If not preprinted, enter the first four letters of the county name for those counties where you have made taxable sales, or delivered items or services.
County code – Enter the two-digit code that applies to the county name. Refer to our website at tax.ohio.gov for county names, code numbers and rates.
Taxable sales – Enter the total amount of reportable taxable sales for each county in which you have locations or where reportable taxable sales were made. Note: Do not include sales of motor vehicles, titled watercraft and/or titled outboard motors that were reported to Ohio clerks of courts or the Ohio Department of Taxation on the Nonresident Watercraft Return.
Tax liability – Enter the total (combined state and local tax) amount of tax due for those reportable taxable sales indicated. Note: DO not include taxes on sales of motor vehicles, titled watercraft and/or titled outboard motors that have been paid to Ohio clerks of courts.
Note: If any sales or tax figure in the county section of the UST 1 is negative, shade the negative sign (“–”) in the box immediately preceding the sales or tax figure.
Total each column and enter the totals on lines 5 and 6 on the front side of the return. The totals cannot be negative numbers. If those totals are negative, file an Application for Refund (Ohio ST AR) and follow the instructions for filing a refund claim.
STEP 2: Complete the front side of the return, lines 1-9.
Line 1 – Gross sales: Enter total sales of tangible personal prop- erty and selected services. Marketplace sellers should include sales made via a marketplace. Do not include the actual sales tax charged. Qualifying bad debts may reduce gross sales. See Tax Commissioner Rule 5703-9-44 for details. Gross sales may be reduced by returned taxable sales on which the full purchase price and tax were refunded or credited to the purchaser. If the full purchase price and tax were not refunded on taxable sales, the law does not permit any reduction from gross sales. Gross sales may also be reduced by cash or term discounts claimed to reduce the taxable price of an item or service, provided that the tax was charged and paid on the full price of the item on the previous return period, and the customer exercised the discount option when pay- ment was made.
Line 2 – Exempt sales: Enter the total exempt sales. This includes, but is not limited to, sales to holders of direct payment permits and sales covered by valid exemption certificates. In addition to exempt sales, include all sales made via a marketplace facilitator as long as the marketplace facilitator collected and remitted sales tax on your behalf. Note: Exempt sales may not be larger than gross sales.
Line 3 – Net taxable sales: Subtract line 2 from line 1 to determine net taxable sales.
Line 4 – Sales where tax was paid to the clerks of courts:
Motor vehicle dealers – Enter the total sales (purchase price or tax base) of motor vehicles for the reporting period for which you have receipts from clerks of courts showing tax paid. This includes automobiles, trucks, trailers and other motor vehicles that are re- quired to be titled. Do not enter the tax paid to the clerks of courts on this line.
Watercraft/outboard motor dealers/sellers – Enter the total sales (purchase price or tax base) of watercraft and outboard motors for which you have receipts from clerks of courts showing tax paid. This includes watercraft and outboard motors that require an Ohio title but does not include documented watercraft, watercraft under 14 feet, outboard motors under 10 horsepower and nontitled trailers. Do not enter the tax paid to the clerks of courts on this line.
Line 5 – Reportable taxable sales: Subtract line 4 from line 3 to determine reportable taxable sales. This is required to equal the total taxable sales reported in the county section of the return.
Line 6 – Tax liability: Enter the greater of the tax collected or that which should have been collected. This is required to equal the total tax liability reported in the county section of the return. Nega- tive numbers are not allowed on lines 1 through 6 of Ohio UST 1. If those totals are negative, file an Application for Refund (Ohio ST AR) and follow the instructions for filing a refund claim.
Line 7 – Discount: Enter .75 of 1% (.0075) of line 6 if Ohio UST 1 and full payment are postmarked on or before the due date.
Line 8 – Additional charge: If the return is filed after the due date or without full payment of the amount due, enter $10. However, certain billing or delinquent programs may apply an additional charge of $50 or 10% of the tax, whichever is greater. If the tax is paid late, interest from the due date of the tax will accrue until the date of assessment or payment, whichever comes first. Taxpayers
should not attempt to report interest on their sales and use tax returns. Instead, interest found due by the Ohio Department of Taxation will be automatically billed.
Line 9 – Net amount due: Line 6 minus line 7 or line 6 plus line 8. Make remittance payable to the Ohio Treasurer of State, write your vendor’s license number and reporting period on your remittance, and mail to the Ohio Department of Taxation, P.O. Box 16560, Columbus, OH 43216-6560.
Note: If payment due is $1.00 or less, no payment is required. Any refunds (must submit Ohio ST AR) $1.00 or less will not be approved.
STOP
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STEP 3 – Proceed only if you are required to make payment by electronic funds transfer (EFT) and have made the proper acceler- ated payments. If payment of balance due is made by EFT, place an X in the EFT box to indicate how the payment was made.
Line 10 – Accelerated payments made: Enter the amount of the accelerated payment made for the month of the reporting period.
Line 11 – Accelerated payment for next reporting period: Enter the amount of the accelerated payment needed for the next reporting period (the period after the period of the current return). For example, if you are filing the January return in February, you are making the accelerated payment for February. This amount must be included in the payment on line 12 and will be credited to that month.
Tip: You still have the option to make the accelerated payment separate from the balance due for the tax return. If you do so, do not complete line 11. Any amount stated on this line will be transferred to the next period, which may leave the current return underpaid and result in the issuance of a billing notice. For example, if the acceler- ated payment and the balance due for the tax return are paid by one EFT transfer, then line 11 needs to be filled out with the amount of the accelerated payment intended for the next reporting period. If, on the other hand, the accelerated payment and the balance due for the tax return are paid by two separate EFT transfers, then line 11 should be left blank.
Line 12 – Balance due: The amount on line 9, less the amount on line 10, plus the amount on line 11. Pay this electronically by using one of the several payment options below.
You can pay your balance due by:
Paper check submitted with the paper return (unless required to pay by EFT)
Ohio Business Gateway, with the filing of the return (gateway.ohio.gov)
EFT through the Ohio Treasurer of State (eft.tos.ohio.gov)
Ohio Telefile – 1-800-697-0440. Refer to TeleFile instructions.
You can make accelerated payments electronically by:
Ohio Business Gateway (gateway.ohio.gov)
Ohio TeleFile – 1-800-697-0440. Refer to TeleFile instructions.
For Cumulative Filers Only
It is important to note that cumulative filers are still required to ob- tain and maintain an active vendor’s license for each fixed place of business. Cumulative filers must report taxable sales and tax liability on a county-by-county basis, not on a location-by-location basis. However, your records must include a location-by-location breakdown of sales and tax activity for audit purposes.
Amended Returns
If an amended return is necessary due to a change in the informa- tion provided on the original return, check the box on the front of the return to signify that this is an amended return. If you need to file an amended return for a period that contained an acceler- ated payment on line 11, you cannot change the amount originally stated on this line.
If an amended return creates an overpayment on the return period, you must complete an Application for Refund, Ohio ST AR. The refund application with the amended return and back-up docu- mentation should be sent to the address on the refund application.
Proper Completion of Your Returns
To ensure that your sales and tax information is properly captured and that your account is properly credited, follow these guidelines when preparing your returns.
1.Use blue or black ink. Do not use pencil.
2.Make hand-written characters as close to the following example as possible.
3.If you had no sales for the reporting period, indicate this by show- ing zeros (00) in the cents column of line 1. Do not use straight lines. Tax returns must be timely filed even if no tax is due.
4.Other than as stated in number three, above, leave other lines blank if they do not apply.
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Filling out the UST 1 Ohio form is an important step for businesses that need to report their sales tax. After completing the form, it should be submitted to the Ohio Department of Taxation. Ensure that all information is accurate to avoid any potential issues.
The UST 1 Ohio form is the Universal Sales Tax Return used by businesses to report and remit sales tax to the Ohio Department of Taxation. This form is specifically for those taxpayers who have received permission to file by paper, as most must file electronically.
Only taxpayers granted permission by the Ohio Department of Taxation to file on paper should use the UST 1 form. All other businesses must file electronically through the Ohio Business Gateway or via Ohio TeleFile.
To complete the UST 1 form, follow these steps:
If you have negative sales or tax figures, shade the negative sign in the box preceding the figure. However, the total amounts on lines 5 and 6 cannot be negative. In such cases, you should file an Application for Refund (Ohio ST AR) instead.
Filing after the due date may incur an additional charge of $10. In certain cases, a greater charge of $50 or 10% of the tax may apply. Interest will accrue on late payments until the tax is paid or assessed.
Yes, if you need to make changes to the original return, you can file an amended return. Be sure to check the box indicating that it is an amended return. If there was an accelerated payment, you cannot change the amount originally stated on that line.
If you had no sales, you should still file the return. Indicate this by showing zeros (00) in the cents column of line 1. It is essential to file timely even if no tax is due.
Payments can be made in several ways:
If the payment due is $1.00 or less, no payment is required. However, refunds of $1.00 or less will not be approved.
It is crucial to keep a location-by-location breakdown of sales and tax activity for audit purposes. Even if you are a cumulative filer, maintaining these records will help ensure compliance and facilitate any necessary audits.
Incorrect County Information: Failing to enter the first four letters of the county name or the correct two-digit county code can lead to processing delays. Always verify this information against the Ohio Department of Taxation's resources.
Omitting Taxable Sales: Not including all reportable taxable sales for each county can result in inaccuracies. Ensure you account for all taxable transactions, excluding those reported elsewhere, like motor vehicles.
Negative Figures: Entering negative numbers on lines 1 through 6 is not allowed. If your calculations yield negative totals, consider filing an Application for Refund instead.
Incorrect Gross Sales Calculation: Miscalculating gross sales by failing to account for exempt sales or bad debts can lead to incorrect tax liability. Always subtract exempt sales correctly to determine net taxable sales.
Improper Payment Submission: Not following the payment instructions can cause delays. Ensure you include your vendor’s license number and the reporting period on your payment, and choose the correct payment method as required.
The UST 1 Ohio form is an essential document for taxpayers in Ohio who need to report sales and use tax. However, several other forms and documents are often used in conjunction with the UST 1 to ensure compliance with tax regulations. Below is a list of these documents, along with brief descriptions of their purposes.
Understanding these forms and documents is vital for any business operating in Ohio. Properly managing sales tax obligations can help avoid penalties and ensure smooth operations. Always consult the Ohio Department of Taxation for the most current information and guidance on tax filing requirements.
The Ohio UST 1 form shares similarities with the IRS Form 941, which is used for reporting payroll taxes. Both forms require detailed reporting of financial transactions over a specific period. In the case of Form 941, employers report the number of employees, wages paid, and taxes withheld, similar to how the UST 1 requires taxpayers to report gross sales and tax liability. Both forms also include instructions for calculating totals, such as tax due, and offer guidance on how to handle exemptions or reductions. Just as the UST 1 addresses specific sales tax exemptions, Form 941 outlines situations where certain wages may be exempt from payroll taxes.
Another document that is comparable to the UST 1 is the Ohio ST AR form, which is an Application for Refund. Both forms deal with tax liabilities, but while the UST 1 is used to report and remit sales tax, the ST AR is specifically for claiming refunds on overpaid taxes. The ST AR requires taxpayers to provide detailed information regarding the original transaction, similar to how the UST 1 requires detailed reporting of sales and tax collected. Both forms aim to ensure accurate reporting and accountability in tax obligations, highlighting the importance of proper documentation and compliance.
The Sales and Use Tax Return (Form ST-3) is another document that resembles the UST 1. This form is used in various states to report sales and use tax collected by businesses. Like the UST 1, the ST-3 requires businesses to report gross sales, exempt sales, and the tax liability. Both forms guide taxpayers in calculating their net taxable sales and provide instructions for handling exemptions. The ST-3, however, may be used in different jurisdictions, which adds complexity compared to the UST 1's focus on Ohio's specific regulations and county codes.
The IRS Form 1065, used for reporting income, deductions, gains, and losses from partnerships, also shares some similarities with the UST 1. Both forms require comprehensive reporting of financial data for a specific period. The UST 1 focuses on sales tax, while Form 1065 deals with income tax for partnerships. Each form necessitates accurate calculations and provides detailed instructions to ensure compliance with tax regulations. Both documents highlight the importance of maintaining accurate records and understanding tax obligations based on the type of transactions conducted.
Finally, the Ohio Corporate Franchise Tax Return (Form FT) is another document that can be likened to the UST 1. Both forms require businesses to report financial information to the state for tax assessment purposes. The UST 1 focuses on sales and use tax, while the FT form is concerned with corporate income. Each form includes sections for detailing taxable amounts and tax liabilities. The instructions for both forms emphasize the need for accuracy in reporting and compliance with state tax laws, reflecting the broader goal of ensuring that businesses meet their tax obligations responsibly.
Filling out the UST 1 Ohio form can be straightforward if you keep a few key points in mind. Here’s a list of things you should and shouldn’t do to ensure your submission is accurate and timely.
Filling out the UST 1 Ohio form can seem daunting, but understanding the key points can simplify the process. Here are some essential takeaways:
By keeping these points in mind, you can navigate the UST 1 Ohio form more effectively and ensure compliance with state tax regulations.