Is Graphic Design Taxable in Texas? A No-Nonsense Breakdown for Creatives

If you’re a graphic designer working in Texas—or if you hire one—you’ve probably wondered:

Is graphic design a taxable service in Texas?

The short answer is: some of it is.
But not all.

At Attah Digital, we design brands and digital systems that are clean, high-converting, and legally aware. While we don’t provide tax advice, we work with enough creatives and service providers to understand how Texas treats different design deliverables.

Let’s break it down simply.

‍

🎨 What Texas Considers "Taxable" Graphic Design

In Texas, graphic design services can be taxable if they result in “finished art” or are delivered in a tangible or digital format.

‍

✅ Common Taxable Graphic Design Deliverables:

• Logos (final files)
• Business cards and brochures
• Website graphics (if delivered for upload)
• Social media post templates
• PDF guides, posters, ads
• Infographics

Why? Because Texas views the final deliverables as a product, not just a service.

‍

🚫 What’s Not Taxable in Most Cases

Not everything a designer does is taxable. Texas generally exempts conceptual or consulting work from sales tax if no final artwork is delivered.

Examples of Non-Taxable Work:

• Brand strategy or creative direction
• Moodboards and early-stage concepts
• UX planning and user journeys (without asset delivery)
• Visual identity planning (no files yet)

‍

📦 The Grey Area: Bundled Services

Here’s where it gets tricky:
If you sell design packages that include both taxable (finished art) and non-taxable (consulting or strategy) elements—you may need to tax the whole package unless you itemise the services separately.

💡 Pro Tip: Always list items separately on invoices to keep taxable and non-taxable services clear.

‍

🖥️ Should You Charge Tax on Digital Delivery?

Yes—even if you send a PNG via email, it can still be taxable in Texas if it qualifies as finished art.

Texas doesn’t distinguish between physical and digital delivery when it comes to:

• Logo files
• Flyer artwork
• Instagram carousels
• Branded PDFs

‍

🧾 How to Stay Compliant (Without Losing Sleep)

If you’re a Texas-based graphic designer:

1. Register for a sales tax permit if you regularly deliver taxable items
2. Collect and remit tax on the “finished art” portion of your service
3. Itemise invoices to protect your non-taxable work

You can register via the Texas Comptroller’s website

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not tax advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional.)

‍

💬 Final Thoughts

Creative work is powerful—but when you’re selling deliverables in Texas, it can also be taxable.

Understanding which parts of your graphic design service are considered “finished art” helps you stay compliant, price your work properly, and avoid headaches.

At Attah Digital, we build brands, websites, and marketing systems that look as good on paper as they do online—and that match your level of professionalism.

✅ Ready to upgrade your freelance web design brand?

Let’s craft a digital presence that actually converts → Contact us

‍