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Free South Dakota General Bill of Sale

A South Dakota general bill of sale is the right document for any private sale of personal property that the state doesn't title — farm equipment, tools, livestock (excluding horses needing brand inspection), furniture, business assets, electronics, jewelry, art, and so on. The document creates a clean paper trail for both parties: it proves the buyer owns the item and protects the seller from being held responsible for what the buyer does with it later. South Dakota has no statutory form for general personal-property sales, so a custom or generic document is fine. Include the basic identifying details and "as-is" language and you're done.

South Dakota Requirements: Transfer title within 45 days. 4% sales tax.

Seller Information

Buyer Information

General Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty

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A general bill of sale works for furniture, tools, equipment, or any personal property — but only if written correctly. Our step-by-step guide shows exactly what language to include so the document holds up if there is ever a dispute. Read: How to Write a Bill of Sale (Step-by-Step) →

South Dakota General Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form
Standard bill of sale
Agency
N/A
South Dakota — no single agency for general personal property
Primary ID Field
Serial Number
Sales Tax
Exempt
Title Required
No
A general bill of sale in South Dakota covers personal property that is NOT titled by the state — tools, equipment, livestock (other than horses moving across the brand inspection area, which require brand inspection), furniture, electronics, art, jewelry, business equipment, agricultural implements, etc. There is no state agency that processes a general bill of sale because there is no title to transfer. The document is purely between the buyer and seller as proof of ownership change. For titled items (cars, motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, trailers, boats with motors, snowmobiles), use the appropriate state-specific bill of sale and title transfer process — not a general bill of sale.
Inspection
Not required

Sales Tax Details

South Dakota imposes 4.2% state sales tax on retail sales of tangible personal property by businesses, plus municipal sales tax (typically 1-2%, varying by city). Isolated/casual private-party sales between non-dealers are generally not subject to sales tax. If the seller is a business or selling in the regular course of a trade, sales tax applies. Always document whether tax was collected on the bill of sale.

Inspection Requirements

No state inspection of general personal property. Specialized regulated items (firearms, alcohol, tobacco, certain agricultural chemicals, livestock subject to brand inspection or health certificate requirements) have their own federal or state regulatory schemes; a general bill of sale doesn't override those.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by None for general personal property — not the same agency that handles cars in South Dakota. Plan for separate filings.

South Dakota General Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

  1. Buyer and seller full legal names and addresses
  2. Date and physical location of the sale
  3. Detailed description of the item: make, model, type, color, dimensions, weight, condition
  4. Serial number, model number, brand, or other unique identifier where applicable
  5. For multiple items: itemized list with separate prices, or a lump-sum total
  6. Sale price and method of payment (cash, check, electronic transfer)
  7. Whether sales tax was collected (only if seller is a business)
  8. "As-is, where-is, no warranty" language for private sales
  9. Statement that the seller has clear title and the property is free of liens
  10. Both signatures dated the day of sale; notarization recommended for high-value items

Common Pitfalls

  • Using a general bill of sale for titled property. Cars, motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, boats with motors, snowmobiles, and trailers all require the state-specific titling process through the county treasurer or GFP. A general bill of sale alone won't transfer ownership and the buyer won't be able to title it.
  • Using a general bill of sale for a horse moving across the brand inspection area. South Dakota's mandatory brand inspection law requires a SD Brand Inspection Certificate; a generic bill of sale doesn't satisfy this. Use the horse-specific bill of sale and get the brand inspection done first.
  • Forgetting to itemize. A bill of sale that says "miscellaneous farm equipment - $5,000" creates problems later if the buyer claims an item wasn't included or if the seller disputes what was sold. List each item separately.
  • Verbal warranties contradicting written "as-is" language. SD courts have held that strong oral representations about condition or fitness can override boilerplate disclaimers. Don't say "this tractor is in perfect shape" if the bill of sale says as-is and you know the hydraulics are leaking.
  • Skipping the lien check on financed equipment. Tractors, skid steers, and large business equipment are often financed and may have a UCC-1 filing securing the lender's interest. The buyer should search SD Secretary of State UCC filings before paying — a UCC lien survives the sale and the lender can repossess from the buyer.

Pro Tip

For untitled personal property in South Dakota, a general bill of sale is your tool — itemize what's being sold, write the price, add "as-is, no warranty," check for liens on equipment, and have both parties sign and date. No state filing, no notary required, but two signed copies (one for each party) and a UCC search on financed business equipment can save you a lot of trouble later.

South Dakota General Bill of Sale — FAQs

When should I use a general bill of sale instead of an item-specific one?
Use a general bill of sale for personal property that South Dakota doesn't title — tools, equipment, business assets, livestock (other than horses needing brand inspection), furniture, electronics, art, jewelry, computers, generators, ATVs older than the title-required years, etc. Use an item-specific bill of sale for anything that requires state titling or registration: cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, modern ATVs, boats with motors, snowmobiles, horses moving across the brand inspection area, and firearms (where a specific format with serial number, prohibited-person attestation, etc. is best practice). When in doubt, ask the county treasurer or your county Brand Board office.
Do I need a notary on a South Dakota general bill of sale?
No, notarization is not required by SD law for any general personal-property bill of sale. The document is enforceable as a contract between the parties without notarization. That said, notarizing creates an indisputable record of the signatures and dates, which is valuable for high-value sales (over $5,000), sales between unrelated parties, and any sale where you anticipate the possibility of a dispute. Most SD banks and credit unions notarize for free for account holders. The state and county won't treat a notarized bill of sale any differently than an unnotarized one — it's purely a buyer/seller protection.
Does sales tax apply to a private sale of farm equipment between neighbors?
Generally no. South Dakota's 4.2% sales tax applies to retail sales by businesses, not to isolated/casual sales between two private individuals who aren't in the business of selling that type of property. So one farmer selling a used disc to a neighbor doesn't collect sales tax; an implement dealership selling the same disc would collect 4.2% plus municipal tax. Many ag implements are also exempt from sales tax even at the dealer level under SD's agricultural exemption (SDCL 10-45-10) — meaning new tractors and implements bought from a dealer for ag use can be tax-free anyway. Always document on the bill of sale whether tax was charged.
How do I check if equipment has a lien on it?
Search the South Dakota Secretary of State's UCC filing system online (sosenterprise.sd.gov) using the seller's name. Any equipment that's been financed for business use will likely have a UCC-1 financing statement filed by the lender (John Deere Financial, AgriBank, local bank, etc.) listing the equipment as collateral. The search is free. If a UCC lien exists, do not pay the seller until you have a UCC-3 termination statement (lien release) or have paid the lender directly to satisfy the loan. Otherwise the lender retains a security interest in the equipment and can repossess from you, the buyer, even though you paid the seller in full.
Can I use one bill of sale for multiple items sold together?
Yes, and it's a common approach for estate sales, business asset purchases, and farm dispersals. Itemize each major item with its own description, serial/model number where applicable, and individual price (or note "lump sum" if the parties agreed to one combined price). For very large lots — say, a complete farm machinery dispersal — attach an itemized inventory schedule to the bill of sale and reference it in the main document. The advantages: one set of signatures, one date, one transaction record. The disadvantage: if a dispute arises about a single item, the whole bill of sale gets pulled into the argument. For really high-value sales ($50,000+), separate bills of sale per major item can be cleaner.

Other South Dakota Templates

🚘Vehicle Bill of Sale🚗Car Bill of Sale🚙Used Car Bill of Sale🏍️Motorcycle Bill of Sale⛵Boat Bill of Sale🚛Trailer Bill of Sale🐴Horse Bill of Sale🏎️ATV Bill of Sale🔫Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale🏕️RV Bill of Sale🖨️Free Printable Bill of Sale📏Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale⚠️As-Is Bill of Sale🎁Gift Bill of Sale

General in Other States

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