Several states have granted SLU exempt status and will waive sales tax if provided with the tax exempt certificate issued to SLU by their state. Merchants will generally require a copy of this certificate and proof that the university is the direct purchaser of the goods or services in order to waive the sales tax. Using a purchase order, university check, university purchasing card, or travel card to pay for the purchase proves that the university is the direct purchaser.
All employees traveling on university business should present the certificate of tax exemption when paying for lodging in a state in which the exemption is extended to the cost of lodging.