Tax season can feel overwhelming — especially if you run your own shop. While we can’t provide tax advice, we can help you understand where to find the information you may need when preparing your income taxes.
This guide covers common questions we hear from US-based sellers each spring.
Income Tax vs. Sales Tax: What’s the Difference?
Before diving in, it helps to clarify:
- Income tax is based on your business profit (what you earned after expenses).
- Sales tax is collected from customers and passed along to the appropriate tax authority.
Sales tax you collect is generally not considered business income — it’s money you collected on behalf of a state or local agency.
If you’re filing income taxes, you’ll primarily be looking at your total sales and business expenses.
How do I get my total sales for the year?
You can export your order data from your Big Cartel admin at any time.
Your order export includes:
- Order totals
- Discounts
- Shipping charged
- Sales tax collected (if applicable)
This export can help you calculate:
- Gross sales (total before refunds/expenses)
- Tax collected from customers
If you are looking for data on refunds, it will depend on the payment processor you are using:
- If you are using Stripe, you can export a Refund report.
- For PayPal, you can download transaction reports that include refunds.
If you’re working with an accountant, they will request this info.
Where do I find my 1099-K?
Big Cartel does not issue 1099 forms.
If you used a payment processor like:
Your 1099-K (if applicable) will come directly from them.
You can typically find tax forms in your payment processor’s dashboard under Tax Documents or Statements. Whether you receive a 1099-K depends on federal and/or state reporting thresholds for the tax year.
If you’re unsure whether you should have received one, contact your payment processor directly.
Why doesn’t my Stripe or PayPal total match my shop total?
It’s common for totals to differ slightly. This can happen because:
- Payment processors may report based on payout dates, not order dates
- Fees are deducted before payouts
- Refund timing may differ
- Failed or pending payments are excluded
Your Big Cartel order export reflects activity inside your shop. Your payment processor dashboard reflects funds processed and deposited.
If you need help reconciling the two, a tax professional can guide you.
Is sales tax considered income?
Sales tax collected from customers is generally not considered business income. It’s money collected on behalf of a state or local agency. Big Cartel handles the collection and remittance of sales tax to the state for all U.S. sellers.
Income tax is typically based on your profit (what remains after expenses).
What business expenses should I track?
Online sellers commonly track expenses such as:
- Payment processing fees
- Big Cartel subscription fees
- Shipping supplies and postage
- Advertising or marketing costs
- Website or design services
Tracking these may help reduce your taxable profit, depending on your situation.
You can find your Big Cartel subscription invoices in the Billing section of your admin.
What should I gather before filing?
Before preparing your income taxes, you may want to have:
- Your Big Cartel order export for the tax year
- Any 1099-K forms from your payment processor
- Records of refunds
- Payment processing fee totals
- Subscription invoices
- Other business expense documentation
If you need help locating information in your Big Cartel account, we’re here to help! Reach out to our support team here. For tax advice on specifics pertaining to your business, we recommend consulting a tax professional, as they should be able to provide guidance.