When buying the assets of a business, some are subject to sales or use tax, while others are not. Items subject to retail sales tax.When you sell your business, you may need to report all or part of the sale on your excise tax return. Also, you may be required to collect retail sales tax. The process is comprised of four general steps: conversation, letter of intent, definitive documentation and closing. This guide will equip you, the Washington state business owner, with the knowledge and steps to navigate this journey. Use a Business Bill of Sale to set out the terms for the sale of a business and transfer the ownership and all assets to the buyer. (1) Prepare business for sale including updating financial documents and list of business assets and debts in order to get the business potentially valued. The easiest way to create a Business Purchase Agreement is to use a template that is customized to your state. A taxable asset purchase allows the buyer to "step up," or increase, the tax basis of the acquired assets to reflect the purchase price.