If you are a business owner, sales tax rates and how they fluctuate are important to you in the running of your business. According to Vertex Inc, a company that calculates rates for merchants and Internet sellers, average sales tax rates nationwide have dropped slightly from 9.64 percent, its highest since the firm began tracking, to 9.60 percent. This works out to a savings of four cents on a $100 purchase.

The calculation is figured by taking the average level of sales tax for each state, county, Indian reservation, municipality, and special districts and then adds them together. The sales tax can vary widely so consumers should do a little research before traveling to different states, so that they can plan out their purchases.

The worst sales tax rate recorded is 13.725 percent and New Jersey comes in at 7.0 percent, which is the middle of the pack. According to Vertex, during 2011, 459 taxing jurisdictions made changes to their sales tax rate and all but 51 were increases or new taxes.

This year's presidential election will focus on income tax paid by the wealthy because they can take advantage of laws taxing investment gains at lower levels. Because the majority of sales taxes are paid for by the poor, who pay a higher percentage of their income in sales tax, this will be a contested topic.

As a business owner, paying, collecting and filing taxes are part of owning a business. Some business owners may not understand what items are subject to sales taxes and what determines a tax on a service or a product. Businesses who have been accused of failing to file their sales taxes or need help determining tax rates, should contact a tax attorney. There are a lot of complex tax laws that only the expertise of an attorney can sort through. They can help you figure out how to maintain proper records of your sales to help minimize your sales tax liability.

Source: Forbes, "Average U.S. Sales Tax Rate Drops - A Little," William P. Barrett, Feb. 2, 2012