Some of our vendors do not charge sales tax for our local jurisdiction but the sales tax is still owed to the local tax authority. how should i handle this in netsuite? what record do i use

Just add the tax to your vendor amount - then move the tax amount using GL plugin and remit to tax authority

vendor amount...you mean on the purchase order? can the custom GL line plug in route the tax to a tax authority on the purchase order?

yes

but when paying the vendor bill the tax will still show up on the vendor reports making it looks like it was tied to the vendor. issue is our vendors do not bill us for tax but we still owe sales tax to the tax authority

That means you do self assessment of tax. Use GL plugin to move to appropriate GL acct for remitance