This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Permit and tax rules change, and your situation may differ. Always confirm current requirements with the official state agency linked in this guide, and consult a licensed attorney or tax professional for advice about your specific business.Last verified against official state sources: 2026-06-11
Anyone engaging in business in Alaska, including selling handmade goods for profit, must first obtain an Alaska Business License; one license covers your line of business statewide. Separately, if you sell in a city or borough that levies a local sales tax, you register with that municipality's sales tax office before selling and collect its tax at your booth.
Immediate when filing online; paper applications take 10 to 15 business days in season.
There is no state sales tax system; each taxing city or borough runs its own registration and filing. Juneau, for example, requires registration before making sales and offers an itinerant business registration (since January 2025) for non-residents selling 15 consecutive days or less, who remit within 48 hours of finishing. Rates and rules differ by location, and in the City of Ketchikan the rate even changes by season.
No state-level relief exists for the business license, but some localities offer small-seller relief: the Kenai Peninsula Borough lets businesses under $2,500 in gross sales file an affidavit instead of regular returns, and Juneau publishes a casual sales guideline. Check the specific city or borough.
Alaska has no state sales tax, but over 100 local jurisdictions levy their own, commonly 2 to 7.5 percent: Juneau 5 percent, Wasilla 2.5 percent (on the first $500 of a sale), City of Ketchikan 8 percent in summer and 5.5 percent in winter. Notably, Anchorage and Fairbanks have no general sales tax, so craft vendors in Alaska's two biggest metros collect nothing.
The Alaska Business License is the one statewide must-have at $50 a year, required even for small handmade sellers since state law defines business as any activity aimed at financial benefit. Online filing is processed immediately.
Knowingly doing business without a current license carries a civil fine of up to $300 (AS 43.70.020(e)).
Anyone engaging in business in Alaska, including selling handmade goods for profit, must first obtain an Alaska Business License; one license covers your line of business statewide. Separately, if you sell in a city or borough that levies a local sales tax, you register with that municipality's sales tax office before selling and collect its tax at your booth.
Alaska Business License (no state sales tax; local sales taxes vary by city/borough), issued by the Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. Cost: $50 per year (or $100 for two years; $25/year for seniors 65+). Immediate when filing online; paper applications take 10 to 15 business days in season.
No state-level relief exists for the business license, but some localities offer small-seller relief: the Kenai Peninsula Borough lets businesses under $2,500 in gross sales file an affidavit instead of regular returns, and Juneau publishes a casual sales guideline. Check the specific city or borough.
Alaska has no state sales tax, but over 100 local jurisdictions levy their own, commonly 2 to 7.5 percent: Juneau 5 percent, Wasilla 2.5 percent (on the first $500 of a sale), City of Ketchikan 8 percent in summer and 5.5 percent in winter. Notably, Anchorage and Fairbanks have no general sales tax, so craft vendors in Alaska's two biggest metros collect nothing.
The Alaska Business License is the one statewide must-have at $50 a year, required even for small handmade sellers since state law defines business as any activity aimed at financial benefit. Online filing is processed immediately.
Browse upcoming craft fairs in Alaska with booth fees and application deadlines, read our picks for the best Alaska craft fairs, and use the booth ROI calculator to plan your season.
Last verified: 2026-06-11. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.