Yes, Shopify merchants are responsible for registering for sales tax in the states where they have tax obligations. Shopify provides tools to help calculate and collect sales tax at checkout, but it does not handle registration with state tax authorities on behalf of store owners.

According to Shopify’s guidelines, it is up to each merchant to determine where they need to register, complete the registration with the appropriate state departments, and then input the tax ID into their Shopify settings. Without this step, tax collection may not be compliant with state laws, potentially leading to penalties or issues with tax authorities.

This is why services like ours exist—to help Shopify store owners get properly registered, avoid legal complications, and ensure their store operates in full compliance with tax regulations.