Sales Tax & More: Recent Episodes
Michael Fleming
Sales Tax & More is the weekly show that talks about everyone's favorite topic...Sales Tax! Listen in each week as we talk with experts, professionals, and more to help you understand this often-overlooked tax.
Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: * Auditors and use tax * Commons use tax problems * Contractor use tax issues
Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: * The history of use tax * What is use tax? * What is a vendor's use tax? Why is it relevant to use tax? * What is a consumer's use tax?
Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: * What is Tangible Personal Property? * How is TPP incorporated into real property? What is real property in that instance? * How does taxability affect TPP that's used or consumed in manufacturing? * What are some taxability recommendations?
Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: * Why is the most common response to taxability "it depends"? * Why are there so many variables when it comes to taxability? * What is Tangible Personal Property (TPP)? * Are services taxable?
Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: * What rates should I use? * Local Rates: Origin vs. Destination Based Sourcing * How do rates and sourcing relate to each other?
- What is an income tax and who is responsible for paying it?
- How is income tax different from a sales or use tax?
- Does income tax affect e-commerce sellers? Are they protected by Public Law 86-272?
- Have there or will there be any major changes to Public Law 86-272?
- What can businesses do to make sure that they're staying income tax compliant?
- Does physical presence matter for sales tax anymore?
- Myth 1: "I don't have to worry about sales tax nexus if I am under the economic threshold"
- Myth 2: "It's never been a problem before and it won't be a problem in the future"
- Myth 3: "Registering for sales tax creates income tax nexus"
- What are the most common sales tax pitfalls?
- What should someone do if they've never paid sales tax?
- What should someone do if they're not registered in the correct number of states?
- What is the difference between physical and economic nexus?
- Economic Nexus vs. Physical Nexus Details
- Who is considered an international seller?
- What are some of the common issues that international sellers face?
- Does an international seller need a US entity to sell in the United States or collect sales tax? Are there any benefits of opening a US entity?
- What is a good strategy for international sellers who are trying to get compliant? What are some resources that they can utilize?
- The difference between online vs. paper returns
- Three of the most common methods for balancing
- Notice management
- The discrepancies between tax collected and tax remitted
- When it comes to a nexus footprint, what should you be doing at the new year?
- What does a lot of states dropping their transaction thresholds last year mean for starting this year off with your sales tax plan?
- How can you find out where you should deregister? Is your sales tax partner helping you with that? What should you be looking at?
- What should be considered for your 2026 tax plan?
- Which rate should someone use when collecting tax? And do states and local jurisdictions have the same rates?
- What the difference between origin based and destination sourcing?
- Where are tangible personal property (TPP) and digital property sourced? Are there differences between how they are sourced?
- Does every state have a local tax rate? What factors can influence whether or not a local tax rate is charged? Which type of tax would require local tax collection?
- How do local tax rates affect remote sellers? What determines whether a remote seller will be subject to it? Are there any exemptions?
- How can someone figure out the state and local tax rates? What are good resources and what are bad resources to look into?
- What red gas can trigger and audit? What are some big things someone should be paying attention to?
- How can someone be proactive when it comes to preparing for a sales tax audit?
- Who would STM’s audit defense service benefit? Who is not right for it? Who should be looking for this?
- When materials are moved to out-of-state job sites, do they trigger use tax obligations?
- What are the hidden nexus risks of warranties, repairs, and subcontractor work?
- How can someone understand when registration is required and when it’s not required?
- What can an exemption be applied to?
- How do you obtain an exemption certificate?
- Who is and isn’t a good fit for STM’s exemption certificate management service?
- What are the most aggressive states conducting audits right now?
- Why is Artificial Intelligence (AI) a bad idea for sales tax?
- What is the connection between marketplaces and economic nexus?
- Does any FBA seller have to pay income taxes in any state where their inventory is stored
- Why can’t you register prospectively in Illinois and some of the other states?
- Would you do a VDA if you have an acquired entity with long-term exposure due to an employee working in the state and they don’t have detailed sales data from the legacy accounting system?
- What are the chances of a state finding a foreign company with any sales tax liability?
- What type of documentation should a vendor collect from their customers that claim they do not meet the economic nexus for a specific state?
- What is the best way to resolve sales tax collected in the wrong states?
- Is it the seller’s or purchaser’s responsibility to make sure use tax is paid?
- Alaska Registration & VDA
- Why would you do a historic registration instead of a VDA?
- Can free items from a vendor be subject to use tax in a state?
- Can certain exemption certificates be dated retroactively?
- The basics of determining physical presence when it comes to sales tax.
- Does physical presence matter for sales tax?
- What should someone do once they’ve determined they have physical presence for sales tax?
- What implications do states eliminating their sales tax transaction thresholds have for sellers?
- What is a retail delivery fee? And do people need to be worrying about it?
- What is the difference between an amnesty and a VDA?
- When does someone need to register to collect sales tax?
- What is nexus?
- What’s the difference between sales and use tax?
- Why do we call sales tax collection without remittance the cardinal sin of sales tax?
- Are people doing this on purpose? How do people find themselves in this situation?
- What should someone do if they find themselves in this situation?
- The dangers of working with a software company to perform services.
- What is a deregistration? Why would someone want to deregister if they’re not switching an entity?
- Is deregistration an easy process?
- Are there circumstances where you would not want to deregister?
- 3 Things STM does when doing a deregistration process.
- Why are certificate issues the leading cause of large assessments for companies required to collect them?
- What is the importance of exemption certificate management documentation in an audit?
- What is one of the biggest mistakes companies make when it comes to ECM?
- Why are companies registering their clients in too many states?
- Is it a problem of too many or not enough when it comes to state registrations?
- What are the issues with either of those problems?
- Nightmare #1: State of Iowa & Software Companies
- How to prevent issues with getting deregistered
- Nightmare #2: Canada & Registering for the goods and services tax (GST)
- Making sure you’re registered in all five Canadian provinces
- What is the triage program? What are we referring to that needs a triage?
- What are some of the issues out there?
- What the triage program entails.
- Who’s a good candidate for the program?
- What is a Canadian business number?
- The process of registering in the five different Canadian Provinces.
- Registering in Canada with an online account.
- Is the language barrier affective when working in Quebec?
- Is physical presence required for nexus?
- If you have nexus for sales tax, do you have nexus for income tax?
- What should you do if you meet an economic nexus threshold but have exempt sales?
- Do employees working remotely create nexus for the company?
- Information about the Massachusetts Amnesty Program
- Why Mike likes this Massachusetts amnesty
- And what is different about this amnesty that makes Mike like it better than a VDA
- Horror Story #1: Small Sellers Program & Being Registered in a State not Required to be Registered In.
- Horror Story #2: Miscommunication from Sales Tax Provider
- Horror Story #3: Problems with the Streamlined Sales Tax Program
What is a marketing trap
How is this relevant in the sales tax world ?
How do you avoid a marketing trap?
When do I need to register to collect sales tax?
Do states care whether sales are taxable or exempt when analyzing economic nexus thresholds?
Do they look at total sales or just taxable sales?
Do exemption certificates expire? How often should I request updated ECM certificates?
- The critical issues affecting the sales tax world.
- The pitfall of software companies and their autopilot programs.
- How business are responding to these arising issues and what the software companies are telling their customers.
- What to do if you find yourself negatively impacted by these autopilot programs.
What is a notice and why would I get one?
Why is it important to manage notices
What is notice management and who should handle it?
Anything else you want to add?
In this episode we answer the questions...
Many platforms, software companies, and even some accounting firms are offering automated nexus reviews. Are these good deals?
How can someone avoid this or what would an alternative to this route be?
If someone has gone this route and is registered in too many states, what should they do next?
Today we will talk about:
Cautionary tales
What should these business’s do going forward
Bonus Content: How much power do states have?
As a buyer… what sales tax liability issues should someone be on the lookout for when it comes to mergers and acquisitions?
Have we seen anyone walk into trouble because they didn’t know what to look out for?
How does a buyer do their due diligence in the sales tax arena for a merger or acquisition?
Do states tax digital products?
What about downloaded pictures, videos, and books?
Why do people get this wrong? What is the common misconception here?
Technology is advancing rapidly is any of this set in stone?
In this episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast we discuss...
What would be the first piece of advice you would give to a business that is about to merge or be acquired from a sales tax perspective?
What should a business do or disclose if they know or discover they have issues?
What consequences and liability issues could the seller of business run into if they do not take care of exposure?
Any additional information that a seller may want to know?
In this episode we talk about...
what do local jurisdictional rates consist of?
Are local jurisdictions a problem in every state?
what are some of the worst states?
In this episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, we answer the following questions...
Who are we talking about when we say International sellers?
What are common issues we see for international sellers?
What would a good strategy be for International sellers trying to get compliant?
How can we help them and where can they look for additional resources
What is a “distraint notice”
What are some things to look out for when determining if something is a scam?
A review of the general process when dealing with any notice to determine if it’s a scam.
In this episode, we answer a few questions from our listeners including...
Should you register if you hit the threshold one year but don't anticipate any more activity in that state and all the sales are tax-exempt per the state's laws? Does it make sense to do this and then deregister?
Do I need a registered agent when registering for sales tax?
I’ve determined economic nexus in each state but need time to research taxability… What do I do?
In this podcast episode we discuss...
What to do when you find yourself suddenly buried in sales
Common pitfalls
How should a business approach sales tax strategy
Where you can find helpful resources
In this episode of the Sales Tax and More Podcast Mike Fleming answers some questions we have received that we believe will be helpful for our listeners!
What are the most aggressive states conducting audits?
Are the states still enforcing notice and reporting?
Is click through nexus still in effect?
What is ECM Validation
Why is it important
What are some things you should be checking
What are the potential consequences of not paying attention to ECM Validation?
We will discuss...What is the first thing someone should consider when interviewing a potential sales tax returns provider?
Can the provider file all the returns you want to file?
Who is your point of contact?
What is their resouloution process?
The leading cause of large audit assessments can be due to missing, incomplete, or invalid Exemption certificates. We talk about...
History
Audits
Good faith acceptance
Improper use of a certificate
Validation & more!
In this episode, we talk about why companies leave their sales tax partner with a broken heart. Empty promises from salespeople. Why registering in too many states can be harmful, and how tax collected/ not remitted happens!
In this episode we discuss...What happens when you don’t have documentation of your sales and you are in an audit? What other kinds of issues arise from lack of documentation? Advice for people who are knee-deep in documentation issues.
In this episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast we discuss setting yourself up for a successful sales tax year and avoiding tax issues.
We discuss economic nexus, physical nexus, registrations and deregistrations, changes in filing frequencies, taxability, and exemptions.
We have had many clients approach us with this issue. So, in response, we have decided to talk about tax collected and not remitted again! We call it the "cardinal sin of sales tax".
In this episode, we are interviewing one of CereTax's founders and their VP of Operations Brent Walker. Brent answers questions about the exciting path CereTax is forging when it comes to sales tax software, after years in the industry.
We hear state tax horror stories a lot and we have been talking about doing a podcast for these types of discretionary tales for a while, but when we came across these three tales we said let's finally air a horror story episode for Halloween. So today we are going to discuss 3 different horror stories related to sales tax software companies, salespeople, and the Streamlined Sales Tax Program.
We have done a number of episodes about the PA Voluntary Compliance Program but they have extended it once again so we thought we could talk about it again today because I believe it's a really important issue and it ties into our nexus series for both sales and income tax nexus.
We mentioned in our last episode that we talked about nexus a lot. We discuss it in virtually all our webinars, we write articles and blog posts about it, yet it continues to be one of the topics that we get the most questions about so we thought it would be a good subject to do a series of podcasts about. Last week was the first in the series and we discussed physical presence nexus and yes it is alive and well and perhaps more important than ever. Today we are going to discuss the economic nexus for sales tax.
We talk about nexus a lot. We discuss it in virtually all our webinars, we write articles and blog posts about it, yet it continues to be one of the topics that we get the most questions about so I thought it would be a good subject to do a series of podcasts about. Today we are going to discuss physical presence nexus for sales tax.
This is a topic we have been talking about for months but really seems to be picking up steam!
- A lot of this is centered around PL 86-272
- Northwestern Cement -19 months
- 7 months congress acted
- BTW - 62 years
- Economy has changed
- Net income tax - Sales of TPP- accepted - Fulfilled
- Not great protection to begin
In this episode, Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat will be discussing remote seller sales tax updates as of May 2021. We will talk about Florida, Kansas, Missouri, and PA.
We previously relayed what the state told us when we asked them why some sellers who are already registered, were actually getting letters, and what the state told us was a clerical error. Just to send back the questionnaire with the sales tax number, you didn't have to fill out the rest of it, and when the person working on your case got that information, they would just mark it as closed.
Well, we started scratching my head and, you know it didn't actually sit very well with us. So, we pressed further and when we went further up the line we received additional verification, and here's what the real story is. If you're already filing sales and income tax returns....
Missing, incomplete, or otherwise invalid exemption certificates are generally the leading cause for large audit assessments in companies that are required to collect certificates. Has it always been this way?
Pennsylvania, like the majority of States, believes that when you have inventory in their state this creates enough of a link or connection to create nexus. Once you have nexus the state can then require you to collect their sales tax or pay their income tax.
Michael J. Flemingis the Founder and President of Sales Tax and More, a full-service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax.He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michaelis a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… As 2020 draws to a close, it’s important for sellers to look back at the year and review their nexus footprint. Many states put in place thresholds that sellers should look at as they carry on with their business and prepare for the coming year.
Additionally, they require sellers to look at certain time periods–mostly the previous calendar year–so that sellers can determine if they met the economic thresholds and physical presence requirements set out by a specific state. If they did, then they need to register for sales tax.
In this week's episode of the Sales Tax and More Podcast, Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat talk about why it’s important for sellers to review their economic nexus position as the year comes to an end and how it can help them plan for 2021. They will also be discussing the importance of looking at physical presence nexus and explain why this should be done on a regular basis. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Flemingis the founder and president ofSales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax.He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michaelis a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of theSales Tax and Morepodcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… Just because the government says that a seller should register for income tax doesn't necessarily mean that the seller has to register everywhere. According to the team at Sales Tax and More, it depends on where your exposure is material. So, what does this mean in terms of income tax compliance for online sellers?
For over 60 years, income tax protection has come down to Public Law 86-272. Now, Amazon and e-commerce sellers are battling the ins and outs of this federal law in order to maintain income tax compliance without paying tax in every state. Luckily, Sales Tax and More is here to help you prepare for upcoming income tax changes and challenges in the new year.
In this week's episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming and his co-host Ellie Moffat explain why income tax will be the next big battle for e-commerce and Amazon sellers. They discuss the provisions of Public Law 86-272, how different states implement the law, and what online sellers should do to handle issues related to income tax compliance. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… If you’re a business owner or online seller, you might have a few questions when it comes to sales tax compliance. Are sales to a business taxable? What do I do if customers keep short paying tax on invoices? And, a frequently asked query: what do I need to know about exemption certificates?
Exemption certificates help a business or individual avoid payment of sales tax on transactions that are exempt. However, they have to be valid in order to serve this purpose. In some states like Connecticut and Maryland, these certificates expire in 3 and 5 years respectively, while in many other states they don't expire at all. In this episode, the team at Sales Tax and More reveals everything you need to know about exemption certificates, sales tax compliance, use tax responsibility—and more!
In this third part of the frequently asked questions episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming and Ellie Moffat share their expertise about exemption certificates and whose responsibility it is to pay sales tax. They also discuss the grounds for rejection of a sales tax certificate, what to do when a customer short pays the tax on an invoice, and whether or not sales to a business are taxable. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Flemingis the founder and president ofSales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax.He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michaelis a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of theSales Tax and Morepodcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… What exactly is a marketplace? Well, it depends—every US state defines a marketplace a bit differently. However, a common definition involves a person contracting with a seller, including compensation and the facilitation of a sale. Typically, there must also be additional services to make the marketplace complete.
For example, in the state of Georgia and many other states, if a person or company only collects compensation and does not provide any additional services, then it is not a marketplace. Examples include sites like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce, as these allow an e-commerce seller to set up an online store and collect payment, but do not provide the services defined under a marketplace.
In this week's episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming, the Founder of Sales Tax and More, sits down with his co-host Ellie Moffat to explain the ins and outs of marketplaces. They discuss the connection between economic nexus and marketplaces, the various caveats to selling on a marketplace, and the best practices for business owners selling on their own websites. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Flemingis the founder and president ofSales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax.He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michaelis a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of theSales Tax and Morepodcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… To ensure sales tax compliance, one of the best decisions a company can make is to consult a professional tax expert. This is because sales tax requirements can differ for each seller and each state—what applies in one state may not hold for another.
So, whether you’re a retail store seller, an online seller, an interstate seller, or even an international seller, it’s important to find a sales tax expert that can help you comply with all sales tax requirements. Luckily, the team from Sales Tax and More is here to answer all your burning questions regarding sales tax registration, compliance, and more.
In this second part of the frequently asked questions episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming and Ellie Moffat share their expertise about registering for sales tax. They answer client questions about the states that don't require registration, the taxability of freight, and whether or not an individual tax identification number (ITIN) or US bank account are needed to register and pay sales tax in the US. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Flemingis the founder and president ofSales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax.He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michaelis a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of theSales Tax and Morepodcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… When it comes to sales tax compliance, it can be easy to get confused about the different rules and requirements. When should you register for sales tax? What is required for a complete registration? And what exactly is nexus?
These are just some of the sales tax questions commonly asked by businesses and sellers. However, it’s important to remember: Failure to comply with sales tax regulations can lead to fines and penalties, and, in some cases, it can negatively affect the daily operations of your business. Therefore, it is very important to get the guidance you need on all issues related to sales tax and more.
In this episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, co-hosts Michael J. Fleming and Ellie Moffat answer their client’s most frequently asked questions about sales tax. They discuss what you need to consider before registering for sales tax, the different types of nexus, how to register for resale certificates, and much more. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… For most e-commerce sellers, online marketplaces like Amazon provide great opportunities for growth and increased sales volume. However, just like brick and mortar store owners, it is important that these e-commerce sellers stay abreast with all issues related to taxation in the states they operate in.
At the end of October 2020, the California Franchise Tax Board started sending out letters to Amazon FBA sellers. This is because the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) got information from Amazon about its sellers who had inventory in the state in 2017, and now the board is pursuing these sellers starting with the tax year 2018. So, what options do FBA sellers have in regards to these recent tax demands?
In this week's episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming is interviewed by his co-host Ellie Moffat about the recent franchise tax letters being sent to Amazon sellers from the California Franchise Tax Board. Michael explains why the letter was sent out, what it says, and what options sellers have in regards to its contents. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… Before making any decisions regarding sales tax, you should first acquire all the information you need to create an effective tax plan. However, it’s important to gather your information from the right sources when conducting your sales tax research in order to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls.
For example, the team at Sales Tax and More knows from experience that relying on verbal answers from states on issues related to taxability can have major consequences for your business. According to Michael J. Fleming of Sales Tax and More, this is just one of the many dos and don’ts of sales tax research.
In this episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming is interviewed by his co-host, Ellie Moffat, about the best strategies for conducting sales tax research for your company. They discuss the common mistakes sellers make when gathering sales tax information, the right tools and sites to use for your research, and what you need to know about the taxation of services. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… When it comes to taxes, states have more power than most people realize. They can track down non-taxpayers and enforce assessments, even if the company or business owner is in a different state. Because of this, failing to pay your sales tax can result in major consequences for your business.
According to Michael J. Fleming of Sales Tax and More, there are a number of ways states can find a person or company that has not been paying the required taxes. These include auditing their customers, using discovery units, and gathering information from third parties like broken partnerships, unhappy spouses, and disgruntled employees.
In this episode of Sales Tax and More, Michael J. Fleming is interviewed by his co-host Ellie Moffat about the consequences associated with people or businesses not paying sales tax. Michael explains what causes states to seek out non-taxpayers, how they find the information they need, and the actions they can take in response to non-compliance. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… The last quarter of the year is often characterised as a time of giving, with many businesses sending gifts and donations to different charities. However, what companies may not be aware of is that these charitable actions can create tax consequences.
So, what do these companies need to pay attention to in order to determine whether these acts of charity are exempt or taxable? Michael J. Fleming of Sales Tax and More has a few insights.
In this episode of Sales Tax and More, Michael J. Fleming is interviewed by his co-host Ellie Moffat about the tax implications of gifts and donations to charities. Michael explains the two main factors that determine the taxation of these charitable acts, and what different states take into consideration when approaching use tax exemptions. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… Since January 1, 2020, Illinois has required marketplace facilitators who cross the state's economic nexus thresholds to collect retailers’ use tax. However, this has caused serious problems for online sellers, as Amazon has a number of warehouses in the state. With this change, marketplace sellers were expected to pay the retailers’ taxes out of pocket.
Luckily, Illinois is in the process of making some updates to solve these sales tax problems for Amazon sellers. As of January 1, 2021, marketplaces will be required to collect retailers’ occupation tax, rather than marketplace sellers. But what does this mean for remote sellers outside of Illinois?
In this episode of Sales Tax and More, Michael J. Fleming is interviewed by his co-host Ellie Moffat about the sales tax problems in Illinois regarding marketplaces and Amazon sellers. Michael explains the cause of these problems, the current updates, and what the state has been doing to resolve the issues. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… When determining the taxability of software, there are a number of factors to look at. Most commonly, these include the medium of delivery, the state in question, and whether or not the software is going to be used 100% for business purposes.
For these reasons, it is important for businesses to stay on top of changes in taxability rules in their respective states. This is especially true when dealing with downloadable software or in cases where the software is used as a service. Luckily, Michael J. Fleming of Sales Tax and More is here to help.
In this episode of Sales Tax and More, Michael J. Fleming is interviewed by his co-host Ellie Moffat about whether or not software is taxable.
Michael shares the factors that determine taxability, what different states take into account, and how Sales Tax and More helps businesses handle the taxation of their software. Stay tuned.
Sona Akmakjian is the Global Head of Strategic Accounting Partnerships at Avalara. With over 28 years of experience in transaction tax services and consulting, she has a wealth of expertise, with particular strengths in areas such as strategic alliances, relationship management, executive collaboration, and product management in all consulting and software environments.
Over the years, Sona has established herself as a thought leader in the field of transactional tax automation. She has deep industry knowledge, which she gained from her experience working for a state tax agency and administering sales and use taxes. Additionally, Sona has Big Four accounting firm experience, tech software experience, and mid-market consulting experience.
In this episode… Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many companies had started using automation to improve and scale their business processes. When the pandemic struck, it only accelerated this automation process, as more organizations saw the importance of digital solutions.
This is just one of many trends that have emerged due to the current crisis. Others include globalization and a significant boost in the e-commerce industry. All of these changes have—and will continue to have—an impact on the collection, accounting, and remittance of sales tax in the country.
Sona Akmakjian, the Global Head of Strategic Accounting Partnerships at Avalara, joins Michael J. Fleming and Ellie Moffat in this week's episode of Sales Tax and More to discuss the current sales tax trends in the country. Sona talks about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on automation, taxation, and the e-commerce industry. She also shares the results from the recent Avalara survey about the effects of the Wayfair case on retailers and businesses. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… Most issues related to sales tax can be traced back to one or more of the seven pillars of sales tax success. These are the foundation blocks to any successful sales tax strategy, and, according to Michael J. Fleming, they can help a business mitigate or eliminate possible exposures during an audit.
So what are these seven pillars? They include nexus, exemption certificate management, registrations, and more. Michael and his team at Sales Tax and More want to help you stay aware of these pillars, as failure to comply can often lead to penalties and interest.
In this week's episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming sits down with his co-host Ellie Moffat to talk about the seven pillars of a successful sales tax strategy. He explains where the pillars come from, why they are important, and how they help businesses during a tax audit. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… According to a recent survey conducted by Avalara, approximately 50% of companies are not sales tax compliant. Michael J. Fleming believes that there are many reasons behind this non-compliance, including complacency or a lack of knowledge on the part of the concerned parties.
However, if a company has nexus in a state, then it is required to register, collect, and remit sales tax. So what do you need to know in order to stay proactive and avoid the consequences of sales tax non-compliance?
In this week's episode of Sales Tax and More, Michael J. Fleming is interviewed by his co-host Ellie Moffat about his thoughts on the recent survey done by Avalara on sales tax compliance. He talks about the main reasons that companies have been non-compliant, the greatest areas of exposure for these companies, and how CPAs can help their clients resolve issues with non-compliance. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… Is Canadian sales tax something that US sellers need to worry about? The answer, like so many other answers when it comes to sales tax, is it depends. That’s why Michael J. Fleming of Sales Tax and More is here to break down everything you need to know about sales tax in Canada.
In Canada, there are two levels of tax: federal level taxes and local level taxes. And, unlike the US, Canada has almost no tax exemptions, except for a certificate that can be used with indigenous peoples. Additionally, the term "nexus" is not used in Canada when referring to sales tax—instead, they say "carrying on business." So how does this apply to you and your business?
In this week's episode of Sales Tax and More, co-hosts Michael J. Fleming and Ellie Moffat discuss the collection and remittance of sales tax in Canada. Michael explains the major differences between taxation in the US and Canada, and when it is appropriate for US sellers to register in the country. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… A recent study carried out by Avalara showed that many companies have not been compliant with the Wayfair ruling of 2018, meaning that they have failed to collect and submit sales tax. According to Michael J. Fleming, one of the reasons behind this noncompliance is simply a lack of knowledge. So what do e-commerce sellers need to know about sales tax in 2020?
Whether or not you need to file for sales tax as an e-commerce seller depends on a number of different factors. For example, physical nexus could be created on the basis of having inventory in Amazon warehouses, even if the seller is not physically present in a given state.
In this week's episode of Sales Tax and More, co-hosts Michael J. Fleming and Ellie Moffat talk about the collection and filing of sales tax for e-commerce sellers. Tune in as they discuss how sales tax applies to sellers using different online platforms, why some companies have been reluctant to comply with the Wayfair ruling, and how this non-compliance will impact their businesses.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… The answer is yes: Many services are taxable, and each year more states increase their lists of taxable services. In most cases, whether or not a service is taxable depends on the state where the service is provided, as well as what type of service it is. However, it could also depend on the facts and circumstances surrounding the transaction.
So why is there so much confusion about the taxation of services? According to Michael J. Fleming, services have historically been non-taxable, so some businesses still assume that their services are not subject to tax. Unfortunately, due to changes in the economy, states have decided to start taxing services in order to boost their overall revenue.
In this week's episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming is interviewed by his co-host Ellie Moffat about the taxation of services in various states. Michael highlights the different services that are taxable, the states that tend to be more aggressive than others, and the reason why many people get confused by their taxation. Stay tuned.
TJ Hyland is the Head of e-Commerce Partnerships in the US at Payoneer, a digital payment platform that empowers businesses around the world to grow globally. His primary focus is building Payoneer’s US partner ecosystem and supporting its ever-growing niche in the online seller market. He is responsible for everything from helping sellers complete cross-border transactions to assisting them with the capital they need to grow their businesses.
As an e-commerce specialist and foreign exchange consultant, TJ has a unique insight into selling on international marketplaces. After working with online sellers for the past six years, he knows the struggles they face on a daily basis—and how to solve them.
In this episode… Many online sellers source their inventory from international markets like China, meaning that they often require a large amount of working capital. Therefore, for these sellers, having extra cash flow is crucial for keeping their inventory in stock and their businesses afloat.
However, many sellers face great challenges when it comes to funding or possessing additional working capital. This is largely due to the fact that most commercial banks are weary of giving loans to such businesses—despite the exponential growth of the e-commerce industry. So what alternative funding solutions are available for online sellers?
TJ Hyland, the Head of e-Commerce Partnerships in the US at Payoneer, joins Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat in this week's episode of Sales Tax and More to talk about the various working capital solutions available for online sellers. Tune in as TJ shares how extra cash flow impacts the inventory cycle, the common sources of funding for online sellers, and how Payoneer's Capital Advance solution helps businesses grow globally.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… Before the Wayfair ruling, dropshipping companies didn't have to register for sales tax in states that didn’t collect it. In fact, due to their business models, most dropshipping companies didn’t have to register for sales tax at all.
However, since the Wayfair ruling, these companies are now responsible for registering everywhere across the country that collects sales tax. What’s more, dropshippers are having to ask for resale certificates in order to protect themselves from vendors that have nexus in different states. So what can these dropshipping companies do to avoid additional charges and better understand the world of sales tax?
In this episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, co-hosts Michael J. Fleming and Ellie Moffat sit down to talk about dropshipping and sales tax in a post-Wayfair world. Michael discusses how dropshippers have been impacted by the Wayfair ruling, why there is persisting confusion around resale certificates, and his recommendations to dropshipping companies on how to deal with sales tax. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… When a State finds out that a seller supposed to have registered for sales tax has failed to do so, it will seek out that seller and require him to pay all the taxes he should have paid including any penalties and interest accrued. The State can decide to go back as far as 7-8 years or even the first day the seller started selling in that particular State, which is the first day of nexus.
In such cases, negotiation with the State is often out of the question. But the seller can reach out to the State and enter into a Voluntary Disclosure Agreement (VDA) which will lead to reduced back taxes, reduced penalties and reduced or waived interest. However, there are limitations to doing a VDA.
In this week's episode of the Sales Tax and More Podcast, co-hosts Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat talk about the use and limitations of Voluntary Disclosure Agreements (VDAs). Michael starts by explaining what a VDA refers to and when it makes sense to use it, and then shares alternative solutions.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… Many sellers are under the impression that they do not have to worry about the collection and filing of sales tax returns because they have not established a physical presence in a given state. This is, however, not the case. As sales tax expert Michael J. Fleming explains, economic nexus can still be established if the seller meets the threshold requirements of that particular state.
In recent years, some states have started to pursue and penalize the sellers that have defaulted on their sales tax. Although this was halted due to the COVID-19 crisis, these states will continue to reach out to sellers once the country returns to a level of normalcy. So what should you do to avoid back taxes, penalties, interest, and, in some cases, jail time? Michael J. Fleming has all the answers.
In this week’s episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming sits down with his co-host Ellie Moffat to discuss why having physical presence matters more than ever when it comes to filing sales tax returns. Michael explains what sellers should do to reduce their amount of owed back taxes, penalties, and interest, and when it is appropriate to do a Voluntary Disclosure Agreement (VDA). Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… The Wayfair case ruling, which was passed by the Supreme Court on June 21, 2018, has affected sales tax collection and payment in the US for two years now. During this time, many sellers have sought professional guidance on the changes they need to make when it comes to filing their tax returns. However, others have decided to wait for Congress to intervene before taking action.
But is it worth it to wait? According to Michael J. Fleming of Sales Tax and More, the answer is no. Based on Congress’ past actions, or lack thereof, any intervention could take a long time, and waiting would lead to penalties being imposed by relevant states. So how can you stay proactive and make the most of the situation?
In this episode, Michael J. Fleming, the founder of Sales Tax and More, is interviewed by his co-host Ellie Moffat about how the Wayfair case has impacted the sales tax world. Michael explains what the term "nexus" means, the possible ramifications of non-compliance to the ruling, and his thoughts on waiting for Congress to intervene. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, e-commerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… The world of sales tax is constantly changing, and it is very important for companies to stay aware of these changes. For example, the 2018 ruling on the South Dakota v. Wayfair case had a great impact on the way companies and states handle sales tax for out-of-state sellers. In another recent update, digital products and software as a service are now subject to sales tax.
According to sales tax expert Michael J. Fleming, this means that companies that ignore the filing and collection of sales tax could find themselves in serious, potentially business-ending trouble.
In this week's episode, Michael J. Fleming, the founder of Sales Tax and More, is joined by his co-host Ellie Moffat to discuss why companies that have not filed sales tax, or have not updated their filing processes, could be at risk. Tune in as Michael explains why you should not rely exclusively on your CPAs, why it’s important to stay on top of multi-state sales tax, and how to best file in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, eCommerce, and service providers.
Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax And More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode… Earlier this year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) extended the deadline for filing federal tax returns to July 15, 2020. Now, there is talk of extending it even further. However, sales tax expert Michael J. Fleming fears that if this were to go into effect, it would only put states into deeper economic trouble.
This crisis has created a perfect storm for businesses across the nation, who are already facing a new recession. Michael wants to help these businesses stay proactive, rather than reactive, in order to take control of their post-COVID options.
In this episode, Michael J. Fleming, founder and president of Sales Tax and More, is interviewed by his co-host Ellie Moffat about the impacts that COVID-19 will have on sales tax. Michael talks about the possible effects of extending tax deadlines, why the COVID-19 recession will be different from previous recessions, and how you can keep your options open. Stay tuned.
Denym Bird leads growth for A2X, the world's leading e-commerce accounting connector that helps sellers on different platforms, such as Amazon and Shopify, simplify their finances. Denym is also an award winning full-stack marketer and entrepreneur with over six years of experience in lead generation, customer acquisition, and marketing automation for global B2B & B2C companies.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Denym started a food delivery directory for New Zealand called Delivereat, which helped over half a million Kiwis connect with the 1000+ independent businesses that were delivering during lockdown.
In this episode… It goes without saying that the e-commerce landscape has experienced rapid growth in the last couple of months, mostly attributed to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, even before the pandemic, e-commerce sales in the US had been on a steady rise for the last 10 years, as shown in the graph below:
This digital acceleration means that there is more competition and, therefore, a greater demand for expert e-commerce marketing skills. That’s where Denym Bird, lead of growth at A2X Accounting and founder of Delivereat, comes in.
In this week’s episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat interview Denym Bird about the best marketing strategies for e-commerce businesses in 2020 and beyond. They discuss the effects of the pandemic on the e-commerce space, tips for boosting your business with Facebook Shops, and the best practices for modern email marketing. Stay tuned.
James Thomson is a Partner at Buy Box Experts, a managed services agency supporting brand executive teams selling on Amazon and other online marketplaces. Prior to that, he served as the Business Head of Amazon Services, the division that is responsible for recruiting tens of thousands of sellers annually to the Amazon Marketplace. He also served as the first Fulfillment by Amazon Account Manager.
James also co-founded the Prosper Show in 2015, which is a continuing education conference for large Amazon sellers. He is also the author of two books, The Amazon Marketplace Dilemma, which was designed for brand executives seeking to optimize their distribution strategy on the Amazon Marketplace, and Controlling Your Brand in the Age of Amazon, which he co-authored with Whitney Gibson and is designed for brands executives struggling to handle critical channel management issues.
James has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Alberta, an MBA from Vanderbilt University, and a PhD in Marketing from North Western University Kellogg School.
In this episode… The rapid growth of online shopping has led to more businesses joining online marketplaces like Amazon. This growth has seen an exponential increase as the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the world, prompting brick and mortar stores to close and pivot into the world of ecommerce.
However, any brand looking to join the Amazon marketplace has to factor in quite a number of things to ensure their success online. A well-thought out strategy on how to manage product listings, manage inventory, promote the products, drive sales, and most importantly, protect their brand against unauthorized resellers are things that every business needs to take into account if they want to establish a good following among online consumers.
In this week's episode of Sales Tax and More, Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat step away from sales tax to interview James Thomson of Buy Box Experts to talk about how brands are pivoting into the ecommerce space and how they can protect their branding once they're in it. James shares his top tips for branding and brand strategies, how to find an Amazon consultant to work with, and how to manage and promote product listings. Stay tuned.
Krista Sleeper is the Director of Special Projects and Registrations at Sales Tax and More. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University and has been married for the last 28 years. She is a mother to two sons.
Krista is affectionately known as the firm mom because she takes care of everyone in the company. Her hobbies and passions are sports and cooking.
In this episode… Many people make the mistake of going on social media to look for advice about filing their taxes and they almost always end up with the wrong information. And when they decide to register on their State's website, they run the risk of checking the wrong boxes because they chose the wrong type of tax for their business.
This is why according to Krista Sleeper, it’s best practice to seek help from a professional when a person decides to register and file taxes. There is so much at stake and a single wrong move could lead to consequences because sales tax is different from other types of taxes. What you register for determines the type of returns to be filed and so you may end up giving yourself too much responsibility by signing up for the wrong thing.
In this episode, Michael Fleming talks with Krista Sleeper, Director of Special Projects and Registrations at Sales Tax and More, where they talk about the processes and nuances of registering for sales tax. They talk about common mistakes people make when signing up for taxation, the difference between manual and online registrations, the value and help that the Sales Tax tracker does for their clients, and more. Stay tuned.
Michael J. Fleming is the Founder and President of Sales Tax and More. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, eCommerce, and service providers. Michael is also a writer and speaker, and regularly presents on webinars, and he is also the host of Sales Tax And More podcast where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
Ellie Moffat is the Head of Marketing at Sales Tax And More. She is an experienced marketer with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. Ellie graduated from Brigham Young University - Idaho and is highly skilled in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), photography, social media consulting, graphic design, and social media ROI. She is also a co-host on the Sales Tax and More podcast.
In this episode… Because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a lot of income tax and sales tax extensions in the US. Businesses and individuals have been getting relief to help cushion them against the effects of the crisis but not all tax extensions are applied in the same way. One such case is that of income tax.
There has also been some confusion coming out of the State of California following statements made by the Governor regarding sales tax extensions. This means that business owners need to be aware of the effects of these extensions on their businesses and finances, as well as what to look out for.
In this week's episode, Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat discuss the reasons behind sales tax and income tax extensions in the US, the implications of these extensions, why history has shown that States tend to be very aggressive coming out of a recession, and employees creating a nexus working from home. Stay tuned.
Silvia Aguirre is the co-founder of CertCapture, an exemption certificate management solution that is now owned by Avalara. Silvia was previously the Chief Certificate Officer at Avalara but now, she is currently the General Manager of the Certificate Management at Avalara, and she manages product direction for the CertCapture suite of products.
Silvia was the Co-founder & Principal of Tax Technology Services which created CertCapture. She had overall responsibility for the operational efficiency of the organization as well as the tax knowledge base. She has also served as an auditor for the State of Texas and their San Antonio and New York offices.
In this episode… One thing the COVID-19 outbreak has shown the world is how crucial technology has become in keeping things running despite physical restrictions. Many countries all over the world, the US included, are under lockdown with a huge percentage of the workforce working from home. But for companies that have yet to adopt technology as part of their operations, they have come face to face with the realization that because their work is done manually, they cannot operate outside the office.
The same case applies to companies that have been handling their tax exemption certificate services manually. It is a tedious process, especially for a company that collects exemption certificates from many states. However, Silvia Aguirre created a simple solution for this through CertCapture, which is an exemption certificate management solution that can be done virtually.
In this episode of Sales Tax and More, Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat interview Silvia Aguirre about how the Wayfair ruling impacted the collection and retrieval of exemption certificates, what her CertCapture software can do for companies, how the technology and automation help companies in filing their tax exemption certificates, and her best tips for getting ahead of disruptive changes, and. Stay tuned.
Brigitte Merten is a Strategic Alliance Manager at Avalara, and she strives to create strong partnerships in order to make everyone more successful and profitable. For the last 5 years, Brigitte has been specializing in helping accounting firms grow their practices while at the same time helping their clients achieve sales tax compliance. Avalara was stated 16 years ago, went public in 2019, and currently has more than 1600 employees.
In this episode… There are many accountants and other professionals who provide accounting services to their clients who are not conversant with sales tax. But the process of finding the best partner to help in managing this very important tax can be a challenge -- especially when the accountant does not know what to look out for.
Avalara is known as an expert in sales tax among other types of taxes. They are a 1600-strong company and this begs the question, how do you find the best direct contact within the company to help you with your sales tax needs?
In this week's episode of Sales Tax and More, Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat interview Brigitte Merten from Avalara to find out how she helps accountants and their clients manage their sales tax requirements. They also touch on the services Avalara offers to various businesses, the benefits of being part of their Accounting Partner Program, and why it’s advisable to work directly with Brigitte Merten. Stay tuned.
Scott Scharf is the co-founder of Catching Clouds, a company that provides outsourced cloud accounting services to e-commerce businesses. They work with e-commerce businesses selling on Amazon, eBay, Walmart.com, Shopify, Etsy, and other channels.
Scott is extremely passionate about helping business owners run better businesses by having detailed and accurate financials so they can make great decisions. He has been in IT for over 30 years providing consulting and solutions from global multinational businesses to small businesses and is an expert in Unified Communications and Collaboration, IT Security, and now cloud accounting technologies.
In this episode… Many e-commerce sellers are faced with great challenges when it comes to accounting the financial transactions of their businesses. Their CPAs, tax accountants, or other accounting professionals often don't have the required knowledge and expertise in doing accounting specifically for online business transactions.
To help solve this common problem and assist business owners, Scott Scharf and his wife decided to set up an accounting firm specifically geared towards helping e-commerce sellers.
In this episode of Sales Tax and More, co-hosts Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat interviews Scott Scharf about why it is important for business owners to take care of their financial accounting and why there is a disconnect between e-commerce sellers and their accounting service provider. They also discuss the need to set aside the money allocated for tax payments despite government extensions and how business owners can protect their company during these financially challenging times. Stay tuned.
Balthasar Wyss is the Vice President of Customer Success and Operations for FlavorCloud, a leading cross-border international shipping company that helps your brand go global. Prior to joining FlavorCloud, Balthasar was the Senior Director of Partner Marketing & Business Development at Avalara, which is a leading provider of sales tax and compliance solutions. He also worked at Microsoft Corporation as Director of Channel Strategy and Partner Marketing.
Balthasar holds a Master's Degree in Social Psychology and Business Administrationa, holds a PhD in Mass Communication from the University of Zurich in Switzerland, and is a postgraduate fellow in Behavioral Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
In this episode… With the rapid globalization of the world economy, it has now become easier for businesses and individuals to have things ordered from across the border. It offers convenience and competitive prices both for consumers and sellers, but it does pose some problems for those who facilitate the trade.
Balthasar Wyss, VP of Customer Success and Operations for FlavorCloud, says that there are factors to consider when doing cross-border trading; the most important of which is compliance and trade policy.
Tune in to this episode of Sales Tax and More, as Balthasar Wyss talks about why cross-border trading has become increasingly popular, trade policies and compliances to remember, and the challenges of cross-border trading particularly in times of crisis.
Scott Peterson is the Vice President of US Tax Policy and Government Relations for Avalara. Before that, he was the first Executive Director of the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board and Director of the South Dakota Sales Tax Division. Accounting Today named Scott as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting in 2018 and 2019.
Avalara is a leading provider of cloud-based tax compliance solutions. The company helps businesses of all sizes achieve compliance with transaction taxes and constantly adding new tax types and services. Their solutions are designed to be very fast, accurate, and easy to use, and their vision is to touch every transaction in the world. Avalara has been publicly trading since 2018 and has almost doubled since then.
In this episode… The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has affected many taxpayers and countries all over the world. Some US States have decided to encourage their employees to work from home, and others are not allowing people into their offices. All this is done in a bid to control the spread of the disease.
What everyone needs to understand is that things in life and business change, and sometimes things don't happen as we had imagined they would. In such cases, people have to make hard decisions based on the current state of affairs. This is the advice Scott Peterson gives to help in tackling the current disease outbreak.
This week Scott Peterson joins Michael Fleming in this week’s episode to talk about some steps different States have taken to contain the disease, tax reliefs some States are providing, and the effects of the new stimulus bill set to get money into the hands of people.
Robert Payne is a sales tax specialist at Sales Tax and More. He is responsible for doing tax research, audit defense, and similar type projects. He has over a decade's worth of experience working as a state tax auditor, and he has worked with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration as a tax auditor.
Robert holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Accountancy from the Northern Illinois University.
If you own a business, there is always a chance that your State will choose you for a sales tax audit. It’s always a shock and you are bound to have a million questions running through your mind, particularly, why did the State choose to edit your business?
Robert Payne, a tax specialist at Sales Tax and More, says that audits are almost guaranteed as part of the business and for him, the best way to prepare and handle the audits is to make sure that you have all the necessary accounting records ready. This way you would protect yourself and your business. But what if some records are missing?
Robert answers this question and shares all the things that you need to know about tax audits in this episode of Sales Tax and More. Tune in as he talks to Michael and Ellie about discovery units and their role in choosing a business to audit. He also discusses what the XYZ letter is and how you can use it to your benefit, and why it’s important to maintain a good relationship with your auditor.
Nils Andreassen is the current Executive Director of the Alaska Municipal League. He's also the former Executive Director of the Institute of the North.
Nils has a degree in Peace and Development from the University of Bradford in England. His background in rural and international development and in Alaskan and Arctic policy, fits very well within AML's mission which is to support and strengthen local governments.
Alaska has historically been known as one of those states without state level general sales tax. However, changes have been taking place following the Wayfair ruling with regards to the collection of sales tax on remote sales. Some local jurisdictions have already committed to establishing an economic nexus while others are yet to register. And as for Alaska, they’ve just established their economic nexus and sellers are in the process of understanding how this impacts their businesses.
Nils Andreassen, Executive Director of the Alaska Municipal League gets interviewed by Michael and Ellie on this episode of Sales Tax and More where they talk about the changing tax landscape within the state of Alaska. Nils talks about the establishment of an economic nexus in Alaska, what the Alaska Municipal League does, and how the economy of Alaska is holding up against the global drop of oil prices and the spread of the coronavirus. Stay tuned.
The Wayfair decision made in 2018 by the United States Supreme Court was a phenomenal overturning of longstanding court ruling on taxable businesses. This recent court ruling impacts many businesses, not only in South Dakota but also in other US states; and whenever new court decisions are finalized and become executory, it’s a challenging time not just for the implementers but for those who need to implement them in their own businesses and activities.
The ones most affected by this ruling are online sellers who use online marketplaces like Amazon to sell their products. These often small time business owners suddenly need to be more acquainted with their tax remittances from the sales they make in their online stores and it can be pretty taxing.
In this episode of Sales Tax and More, Michael Fleming is joined by Scott Peterson, Vice President of U.S. Tax Policy and Government Relations at Avalara to discuss how the Wayfair decision affects various players in the United States, what the grounds for the ruling are, the transaction thresholds it covers, and how you can ensure that your business remains state compliant to avoid headaches in the future. Stay tuned.
Marketing and public relations, contrary to what most people think, go hand in hand in pushing a business or practice forward. And according to Scott Cytron, making these two work seamlessly together to establish your brand is very important -- even for accounting professionals.
Scott Cytron is the President of Cytron and Company, a firm that helps professionals and B2B/B2C companies with their PR, marketing, and communications strategies to help them bring their business to the next level.
In this episode of Sales Tax and More, co-hosts Michael and Ellie interview Scott about why PR and marketing is important for accountants, how his company can help them in reaching out to potential clients, and the three things that they encourage accounting professionals to do the moment they walk through his door. Stay tuned.
Many Amazon sellers don't have their own eCommerce sites, and according to Jason Boyce, this is a very risky move. Why? Because Amazon has control over their account and can suspend it or remove product listings without warning, and getting things fixed will not only be time-consuming, it will also be quite a challenge to do.
This is why Jason Boyce, CEO of Avenue Seven Media, encourages brand owners to work on building their brand name and creating a website away from Amazon and funneling their clients into that website. It’s one of the best business decisions an online entrepreneur can make and the path towards it can be incredibly rewarding.
In this episode of Sales Tax and More, Michael Fleming gets to interview Jason about the difference in selling on Amazon and Shopify, the importance of having a backup plan for your business, and why you should get excited about the upcoming Prosper Show this March 2020.
If you’re a CPA or other accounting profession and want to start offering sales tax services in addition to what you currently offer to your clients, getting the right kind of training is necessary for you to be able to provide the best kind of service you can possibly give. On the flip side of the coin, if you already have a ton on your plate and don’t want to be the one offering this service yourself, you would need someone with the know-how who can provide your clients with the right service fit for their needs.
Michael is the Founder of Sales Tax and More and is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, eCommerce, and service providers. He is a writer, speaker, and regularly presents on webinars, and he also hosts his own podcast where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
Ellie Moffat, Michael’s new co-host on his podcast show, is also the head of marketing at Sales Tax And More. She is an experienced marketer with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. Ellie graduated from Brigham Young University - Idaho and is highly skilled in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), photography, social media consulting, graphic design, and social media ROI.
In this episode, Michael starts out by introducing his new co-host Ellie Moffat. They then talk about how Sales Tax and More helps CPAs who want to offer sales tax services to their clients, the type of trainings they have for CPAs & other accounting professionals, and what we should expect in the coming weeks on this podcast.
Economic nexus is a new concept for sales tax although it has been around for a while now. for income tax and other types of taxes. Two Supreme Court cases made rulings on sales tax where one said you had to have some sort of physical presence in order to create a link with a State and that State could then require you to collect or pay its taxes. Then the other on June 21 2018 said that there's no need for physical presence for the State to require you to collect its sales tax, bringing up the concept of economic nexus.
So what exactly is an economic nexus? Michael Fleming has all the answers.
Michael is the Founder of Sales Tax and More and is one of the country's leading authorities for sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, eCommerce, and service providers. He is a writer, speaker, and regularly presents on webinars, and he also hosts his own podcast where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.
In this episode, Michael Fleming is flipping the script as he answers questions posed by Dr. Jeremy Weisz, a seasoned podcast host himself, as they talk about the concept of economic nexus, its impact in different States, and the cost of non-compliance for businesses.
The main question most people have when it comes to sales tax is, 'When does a company have to worry about collecting sales tax?' To answer this question, Michael Flemming will walk you through the four factors you need to look at in determining whether you need to start worrying about sales tax collection or not.
Michael is the Founder of Sales Tax & More and is one of the country's leading authorities for state tax issues like consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, eCommerce, and service providers. He is a writer, speaker, and regularly presents on webinars.
In this episode, Michael goes to the other side of the table and is interviewed by Dr. Jeremy Weisz, an entrepreneur and seasoned podcast host. Michael answers the most commonly asked questions he gets related to sales tax ranging from how a nexus is created, the different types of nexus, as well as the tax implications of selling in online marketplaces such as Amazon. It’s a great episode with much learning in it so make sure to stay tuned.
A lot of times auditors can be very tough with taxpayers and can have bullish behavior, either because they think the taxpayers don't know what is required or because the auditors themselves don't know what’s really needed. So how do you handle such cases?
Michael Fleming, host of The Sales Tax and More podcast, has the solution.
Michael is the Founder of Sales Tax and More and is one of the country's leading authorities for state tax issues like consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, eCommerce, and service providers. He is a writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars.
In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Weisz is the one leading the interview with Michael Fleming as they talk about working with a bully auditor and how to resolve the issue.
For companies that have the responsibility of collecting resale certificates or other types of exemption certificates, there are a couple of things that need to be checked to prevent audit assessments. Michael Fleming, the host of the Sales Tax & More podcast, highlights these items this week
Michael is the Founder of Sales Tax & More and is one of the country's leading authorities for state tax issues like consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, eCommerce, and service providers. He is a writer, speaker, and regularly presents on webinars.
In this episode, Michael Fleming is joined by Dr. Jeremy Weisz to talk about large audit assessments, resale and exemption certificates, and the importance of completely filled certificates.
For any individual, once you give money to the State, getting a refund is not always easy. The language used in some Voluntary Disclosure Agreements (VDA) says that payment is a final settlement and you cannot get your money refunded. So how do you go about ensuring that you hire an expert sales tax firm for advice on your tax needs?
Michael Fleming, the host of the Sales Tax & More podcast, has all the answers.
Michael is the Founder of Sales Tax & More and is one of the country's leading authorities for state tax issues like consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, eCommerce, and service providers. He is a writer, speaker, and regularly presents on webinars.
This week Michael Fleming is interviewed by Dr. Jeremy Weisz where they talk about voluntary disclosure agreements, getting tax refunds, and what to look out for when hiring a tax expert.
States share their information with the IRS, so if you pay independent contractors you would usually do that using Form 1099. So if the State finds out from the IRS that you issued a 1099 but check their tax roles and you are not signed up with them, you can expect a letter from them.
Such was the case of a pipe seller who contacted Michael Fleming for tax assistance.
Michael is the Founder of Sales Tax & More and is one of the country's leading authorities for state tax issues like consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, eCommerce, and service providers. He is a writer, speaker, and regularly presents on webinars.
This week Michael Fleming is interviewed by Dr. Jeremy Weisz to talk about amnesties, historical registration, and how third parties can create nexus.
When it comes to software as a service, there is a lot of confusion among software companies because they don't understand that they are taxable in some States. It could be that their attorney or accountant told them their services are not taxable, and when contacted by the State they go into a panic.
And that's when Michael Fleming gets the call.
Michael is the Founder of Sales Tax & More and is one of the country's leading authorities for state tax issues like consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, eCommerce, and service providers. He is a writer, speaker, and regularly presents on webinars.
In this episode, Michael Fleming is interviewed by Dr. Jeremy Weisz where they talk about State tax, payment of sales tax by software companies, and working with independent contractors.
The sales tax world was turned upside-down since June 21, 2018, when the Wayfair decision was made by the Supreme Court. This is because the Court ruled that one does not need to have a physical connection with any state before they can be required to collect sales tax.
So what impact did this ruling have on the administration of sales tax? Host Michael Fleming has all the answers.
Michael is the Founder of Sales Tax & More and is one of the country's leading authorities for state tax issues like consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, eCommerce, and service providers. He is a writer, speaker, and regularly puts on webinars.
Dr. Jeremy Weisz joins Michael Fleming to learn more about Michael’s financial & tax background, how the Wayfair decision impacted his business, and his future plans for this podcast.