Organizational Tax
This page expands upon Sales, City, Meals, and Local taxes, Unrelated Business Income, Fellowships, and Scholarship taxes. Below you will find copies of VCU's state sales tax exemption certificates for Virginia and other states.
Sales, Meals, City and Local Tax
VCU is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As such, VCU is exempt from paying sales tax on tangible personal property for use or consumption by the State.
Purchases made in the State of Virginia to a vendor should be accompanied by a copy of our Virginia state sales and use tax exemption certificate.
These purchases include:
- Tangible personal property
- Prepared meals
- Catering and other services related to the provision of food.
Exemption certificates and instructions for other states
The below table shows tax exemption certificates and instructions for non-Virginia states. Please note some states offer no exemption, exemption is denied, not applicable, limited, or currently pending application. Please check back for updates. If you have any questions, please email Payroll Services (payroll@vcu.edu).
| State | Status / ID | Documents | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Exempt (Cert. No. EXM-R012796125) | Alabama state sales and use tax exemption certificate(Expires 2/28/2027) | Department must check exemption provides copy of certificate to vendor for completion. |
| Alaska | No Exemption Needed | N/A | Alaska does not impose a sales tax. Exemptions from local taxes must be negotiated with each jurisdiction. |
| Arizona | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Arkansas | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| California | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Colorado | Exempt | See instructions | Provide a copy of VCU's ST-12 and IRS Determination Letter. |
| Connecticut | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Delaware | No Exemption Needed | N/A | The state of Delaware does not impose a state sales tax. |
| District of Columbia | Not Exempt | N/A | Government exemption requires reciprocity with Virginia which doesn't exist to date, thus no exemption is offered. |
| Florida | Exempt (Cert. No. 85-8020009613C-4) | Florida consumer's certificate of exemption (Expires 1/31/2031) | Department provides copy of certificate to make purchases or leases in Florida. Purchase must be made with the governmental entity’s funds. Personal funds of an authorized representative are still subject to tax, even if they seek reimbursement. This provision does not apply to authorized employees of a federal agency. |
| Georgia | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Hawaii | Not exempt | N/A | Hawaii has general excise tax (GET) imposed upon businesses. Since the GET is imposed on businesses and not customers, sales to these tax exempt or governmental organizations are still subject to GET. |
| Idaho | - | - |
- |
| Illinois | - | - |
- |
| Indiana | Temporary exemption available | Indiana Form NP-20T must be downloaded and completed by the department, and must be signed by VCU Payroll Services. |
Temporary exemption form (NP-20T) must be completed by the department and signed by VCU Payroll Services. This form is found on the Indiana Department of Revenue website. VCU departments may not sign the form themselves. Please reach out in advance to Payroll Services (payroll@vcu.edu) for assistance with completing the form. |
| Iowa | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Kansas | - | - | - |
| Kentucky | Exempt (Tax ID OA001427323) | Kentucky out of state purchase exemption certificate | Department provides copy of certificate to vendor for completion. |
| Louisiana | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Maine | Not exempt | N/A | Exemption application not approved. |
| Maryland | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Massachusetts | - | - | - |
| Michigan | - | - | - |
| Minnesota | - | - | - |
| Mississippi | Exempt | Mississippi letter of ruling of exemption status | Department provides copy of letter ruling exemption to vendor at time of purchase. Exemptions permitted are embedded in the letter. |
| Missouri | - | - | - |
| Montana | No Exemption Needed | N/A | Montana does not impose a state sales tax. There is no exemption from accommodations tax. |
| Nebraska | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Nevada | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| New Hampshire | No Exemption Needed | N/A | New Hampshire does not impose a state sales tax. There are no exemptions offered for local meal or occupancy taxes. |
| New Jersey | - | - | - |
| New Mexico | - | - | - |
| New York | - | - | - |
| North Carolina | - | - | - |
| North Dakota | Exempt (Exemption No. E-50929) | North Dakota state sales and use tax exemption certificate | Department provides copy of certificate to vendor. Purchase must be made with the governmental entity’s funds. Personal funds of an authorized representative are still subject to tax, even if they seek reimbursement. |
| Ohio | Exempt | Ohio state sales use and tax exemption certificate | Department provides copy of certificate to vendor for completion. |
| Oklahoma | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Oregon | Not applicable | N/A | Oregon does not impose a state sales tax. No exemptions are offered for taxes levied by localities. |
| Pennsylvania | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Rhode Island | Exempt | Rhode Island state sales and use tax exemption certificate | Department provides copy of certificate to vendor for completion. |
| South Dakota | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| South Carolina | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Tennessee | Exempt | N/A | Provide a copy of VCU's ST-12 and IRS Determination Letter. |
| Texas | - | - | - |
| Utah | Exempt (Exemption No. N38179; Account No. 16526131-002-STC) | Utah state sales and use tax exemption certificate | Department provides copy of certificate to vendor at time of purchase. Exemptions permitted are embedded in the letter. |
| Vermont | Exempt (Account No. SUT-11449291) | Vermont state sales tax and use exemption certificate | Department provides copy of certificate to vendor at time of purchase. |
| Washington | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| West Virginia | - | - | - |
| Wisconsin | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
| Wyoming | Not exempt | N/A | No sales tax exemptions offered. |
Unrelated Business Income Tax
As an exempt organization, there are instances where VCU may be liable for tax on income that is considered unrelated. The definition of unrelated business income is income from a trade or business, regularly carried on, that is not substantially related to the charitable, educational, or other purpose that is the basis of VCU’s exemption. Per the IRS, an exempt organization that has $1,000 or more of gross income from an unrelated business must file a Form 990-T PDF and must pay estimated tax if it expects its taxes for the year to be $500 or more.
Scholarship Tax Information
Scholarships constitute taxable income unless they are ‘qualified scholarships.’
- Qualified Scholarships — Defined as payments that are given to the recipient who is a candidate for a degree that is made for the purpose of studying or conducting research at an educational institution. Payments include tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at the educational institution, and fees, books, supplies or equipment ‘required for courses of instruction’ at the institution.
- Non-Qualified Scholarships — Any payments that are not qualified scholarships.
Examples include cash stipends used to pay rent, buy food, or pay for other personal items