Tax Information for Purchases

How Sales Tax is Determined

Sales-tax treatment may depend on:

• The delivery destination
• The type of product or service purchased
• The identity and tax status of the purchaser
• The purpose for which the purchase is made
• The exemption documentation required by the applicable jurisdiction

Tax rates and requirements are determined under applicable state and local law.

Sales-Tax Exempt Purchases

Nonprofit or federal tax-exempt status does not automatically make every purchase exempt from state or local sales tax. Sales-tax exemptions are established under state law, and eligibility and documentation requirements vary by jurisdiction.

To make a sales-tax-exempt purchase, the purchasing organization must provide current, complete, and legally valid exemption documentation applicable to the jurisdiction where the order will be delivered. We must review and approve that documentation before the organization submits its online order.

An IRS determination letter, federal employer identification number, sales-tax registration number, certificate of authority, sales-tax return, or statement that an organization is nonprofit is generally not sufficient by itself to document a sales-tax-exempt purchase.

The Mendez Foundation may request additional information when necessary to determine whether the purchaser, products, payment method, and delivery destination are covered by the claimed exemption.

Before Placing Your Order

To request sales-tax-exempt purchasing status:

1. 1. Create or identify your organization’s account at toogoodprograms.org.
2. 2. Submit the exemption certificate or other documentation required by the applicable jurisdiction to customerservice@mendezfoundation.org.
3. 3. Allow time for us to review the documentation.
4. 4. Wait for confirmation that the organization’s account has been updated before placing the order.
5. 5. Log in to the approved organizational account and confirm that the exemption is reflected at checkout.

Submitting exemption documentation does not automatically establish exempt status. If the documentation is incomplete, expired, inconsistent with the account information, or not applicable to the transaction or delivery destination, sales tax will be charged.

The legal name and address on the customer account should match the exemption documentation. Where required by applicable law, the order must be placed and paid for directly by the exempt organization using organizational funds.

Scope of an Approved Exemption

Approval applies only to:

• The legal entity identified in the exemption documentation
• Authorized purchasers using that organization’s account
• Qualifying purchases
• Delivery destinations and jurisdictions covered by the documentation
• The period during which the documentation remains valid

Tax-exempt status may not be transferred to another organization, individual, affiliate, contractor, or customer. An employee’s or representative’s personal purchase does not become exempt merely because the individual expects to be reimbursed by an exempt organization.

The customer is responsible for notifying us of any change to its legal name, organizational status, exemption eligibility, covered addresses, or documentation. Updated documentation must be provided before an expired certificate or changed exemption can be applied to a new order. 

Orders Placed Before Approval

If exemption approval has not been completed when an order is placed, applicable sales tax will be charged.

Do not place the order if tax appears at checkout and you believe the purchase should be exempt. Contact Customer Service before completing the transaction.

Requests concerning tax charged on a completed order will be considered only when permitted by applicable law and supported by timely, complete documentation showing that the transaction qualified for exemption when it occurred. Approval of a refund or adjustment is not guaranteed. Applicable filing deadlines, administrative requirements, and state-specific procedures may apply.

Relationship to Purchase-Order Credit

Sales-tax-exempt status and purchase-order credit approval are separate determinations. Approval of an organization’s sales-tax exemption does not establish a credit account or authorize Purchase Order or Net 30 billing.

For information about applying for purchase-order billing, please review our Payment Methods page.

Questions about exemption documentation or a pending request may be directed to customerservice@mendezfoundation.org or 800-750-0986.