text: is it okay to charge tax on shipping when ordering a product from the internet?   "ok" is a relative term. the correct question would be is it legal?  in most localitys sales tax is only charge if the purchase is made from a vendor or supplier who has a physical presence in your state or city. i.e. a store or warehouse. if no physical presence than sales tax is usually not charged.  local governments are working however to close this loophole so they can dig even deeper into the publics pockets.