Bass Pro Shop pays federal income tax and most state sales taxes, but the details depend on where you shop and what you buy
Bass Pro Shop is a for-profit retailer and must file federal income tax returns like any other business. The company pays corporate income tax on its profits to the IRS. However, sales tax works differently — Bass Pro Shop collects sales tax from customers at checkout in states where it has a physical location or meets other tax thresholds, then sends that money to the state. The amount varies by state because each state sets its own sales tax rate, and some states exempt certain items like clothing or groceries.
Whether you pay sales tax on your Bass Pro Shop purchase depends on three things: which state you're in, what you're buying, and whether Bass Pro Shop has a legal obligation to collect tax in that state. A fishing rod in Texas will have a different tax outcome than the same rod in Oregon, where there is no sales tax at all.
Key Takeaways
- Bass Pro Shop collects and pays sales tax in states where it operates physical stores or meets economic nexus thresholds set by state law.
- Sales tax rates and what items are taxed vary by state — some states tax all merchandise, while others exempt clothing, food, or outdoor gear.
- Online purchases from Bass Pro Shop are subject to sales tax in your state if the company has nexus there, which it does in most states through its store locations.
- Bass Pro Shop files federal corporate income tax returns and pays taxes on company profits, separate from the sales tax it collects from customers.
- Tax-exempt organizations like nonprofits and government agencies can sometimes purchase from Bass Pro Shop without paying sales tax if they provide proper documentation.
How Bass Pro Shop collects and pays sales tax
Bass Pro Shop operates physical retail locations in most U.S. states. Because of these stores, the company has what tax law calls nexus — a legal connection to those states that requires it to collect sales tax from customers. When you buy something at a Bass Pro Shop register or online and the order ships to an address in a state where Bass Pro Shop has nexus, the company collects sales tax and remits it to that state's revenue department.
The sales tax amount depends on your location within the state. A state might have a base rate of 5%, but your city or county may add another 1% to 2.5%, making your total rate 6% to 7.5%. Bass Pro Shop's register system knows your location and applies the correct rate automatically. The company then files monthly or quarterly tax returns with each state, reporting how much tax it collected and sending the money to the state treasury.
For online orders, Bass Pro Shop determines your tax obligation based on the shipping address you provide. If you live in a state where the company has nexus, you will owe sales tax even if you order online. If you ship to a state where Bass Pro Shop has no physical presence and does not meet that state's economic nexus threshold, you may not owe sales tax — though some states require you to pay use tax on your own tax return instead.
Which states have Bass Pro Shop locations and tax collection
Bass Pro Shop has stores in nearly every state, which means the company collects sales tax in nearly every state. The company does not operate in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, or Oregon — states that either have no sales tax or where Bass Pro Shop has chosen not to open locations. In those states, you will not pay sales tax on a Bass Pro Shop purchase made in-store.
However, even in states without Bass Pro Shop stores, online orders may still be subject to sales tax. Many states have adopted economic nexus laws that require out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax if they exceed a sales threshold — often $100,000 to $500,000 in annual sales in that state. Bass Pro Shop likely meets these thresholds in most states, so even if there is no physical store, the company may still collect tax on your online order.
To know your exact tax rate, check your state's revenue or taxation website and search for the sales tax rate in your city or county. Bass Pro Shop's website will also show the estimated tax before you complete checkout.
What items are taxed and what items are exempt
Most merchandise at Bass Pro Shop — fishing rods, boats, camping gear, hunting equipment, and clothing — is subject to sales tax in states that have a sales tax. However, some states exempt specific categories of items, and these exemptions vary widely.
For example, several states exempt clothing and footwear from sales tax, which would include some Bass Pro Shop purchases like waders, boots, and hats. Other states exempt hunting and fishing licenses, though the license itself is often a separate transaction from gear. A few states exempt certain outdoor equipment or have special rules for items like firearms or ammunition. New York, for instance, taxes ammunition but not firearms in some cases.
The safest approach is to check your state's tax rules before purchase or review the tax shown at checkout. Bass Pro Shop's system is programmed with state-specific exemptions, so the tax calculated at the register should be accurate. If you believe an item should be exempt and it was taxed, contact your state's revenue department to understand the rule.
Tax-exempt purchases at Bass Pro Shop
If you represent a nonprofit organization, government agency, school, or other tax-exempt entity, you may be able to purchase from Bass Pro Shop without paying sales tax. To do this, you must provide Bass Pro Shop with a resale certificate or tax-exempt certificate issued by your state. This document proves your organization's tax-exempt status to the retailer.
The process varies by state and by Bass Pro Shop location. Some stores accept certificates in person at the register; others require you to provide the certificate when you place an online order. Contact your local Bass Pro Shop or your state's revenue department to learn what certificate format your state uses and how to present it. You will need to renew the certificate periodically, usually every three to five years.
Bass Pro Shop's federal income tax obligations
Separate from sales tax, Bass Pro Shop must file federal income tax returns and pay corporate income tax on its profits. The company is a for-profit business owned by Johnny Morris and his family, so it is subject to the standard corporate tax rate set by federal law. This is different from sales tax — it is a tax on the company's earnings, not a tax collected from customers.
Bass Pro Shop also pays payroll taxes for its employees, property taxes on its store locations and warehouses, and state income taxes in states where it operates. These are all standard business tax obligations that any retailer must meet. The company's tax filings are not public unless it chooses to disclose them, as it is a private company rather than a publicly traded one.
Online orders and tax responsibility
When you order from Bass Pro Shop online, the company applies sales tax based on your shipping address, not your billing address. If you ship to a state where Bass Pro Shop has nexus, you will owe tax. If you ship to a state where the company has no nexus and does not meet economic nexus thresholds, you typically will not owe sales tax at checkout — but you may owe use tax instead.
Use tax is a tax you owe directly to your state on purchases made outside the state. Most people do not pay use tax because states rarely enforce it for individual consumers, but it is technically your responsibility. If you are unsure whether use tax applies to your purchase, check your state's revenue website or ask Bass Pro Shop's customer service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I pay sales tax on a Bass Pro Shop gift card?
No. Gift cards are not taxed at the time of purchase. However, when you use the gift card to buy merchandise, you will pay sales tax on that merchandise just as you would with any other payment method.
What if I buy something at Bass Pro Shop and return it — do I get the tax back?
Yes. When you return an item, Bass Pro Shop refunds the full purchase price including the sales tax you paid. The refund appears as a credit to your original payment method.
Does Bass Pro Shop charge sales tax on shipping costs?
Most states do not tax shipping fees, and Bass Pro Shop typically does not charge sales tax on shipping. However, a few states do tax shipping, so check your state's rules or review the tax breakdown at checkout to be certain.
Can I avoid sales tax by buying online from out of state?
Not if you live in a state where Bass Pro Shop has nexus, which includes most states with physical stores. The company collects tax based on your shipping address, not where the order is placed. Attempting to avoid tax by using a false address is tax evasion and is illegal.
Does Bass Pro Shop pay taxes on used or returned merchandise?
Bass Pro Shop does not resell returned merchandise as new, so returned items do not go back on shelves. The company may donate, liquidate, or dispose of returns depending on condition. Sales tax is handled at the point of original sale and refund, not on the return itself.