Hi, I've been reading about people who have speaking engagements and sell their books at those events. How is that handled from a business and tax perspective? Do they have to add local taxes to the price? If so, then what do they do with that tax? I assume they have to give it to the county or city, right? Another question comes to mind: do people need to have a business license to sell books - whether book signings, speaking engagements, book fairs, selling through organizations, Barnes and Noble, etc? In our town, we have to get a permit to even have a garage sale, so I wonder if selling books at a similar event would require a permit from my city government. Thanks for your wisdom.
Linda Thomas
Wayfaring Wordsmith

Linda, sales tax and license laws vary from state to state. What's required here may not be true for where you live.

I'll speak from my experience. At readings and smaller events, no one bothers with sales tax or a license. In theory we should, but in reality no one cares.

At larger events, you might have to charge tax.

I would ask the organizer of any event what their usual custom is.