Recently, a client called me and asked if I could help them get a Seller’s Certificate from the Board of Equalization. It’s been a while since I’ve done that, but with everything online these days, I wasn’t too concerned.

Any concerns I had were lessened when I read the first paragraph of the BOE webpage: “The Board of Equalization (BOE) wants to make doing business in California as easy as possible.” Great. This should be smooth and easy.

Should be. But not, apparently.

The section for “Register Online” has no link to actually register online. If you want to do that, you have to go down a few paragraphs, in the middle of the section telling out-of-state sellers how to register online. Once you figure that out (if you haven’t done the interim step – go to a field office – and screamed at a hapless clerk, that is), you’re treated to three screens including a declaration of intent (which you’re told to print out, but as that admonition is at the end, I wonder how many people actually read that far) before you can actually start the process.

Yeesh.

One thing the BOE doesn’t tell you – if you sign the application, you will be considered a ‘responsible person’ for purposes of personal assessment of tax in the event the entity doesn’t pay. Which is one thing if it’s your own business, and quite another if someone else is running the show, and you’re the one assigned to get the Seller’s Permit.