Not long ago, clicking a computer mouse to buy something was an idea of science fiction. Today, of course, e-commerce is how a significant amount of shopping takes place in general. Capital One reports that global e-commerce retail sales will hit some $6.91 trillion this year, up 9.5% from total e-commerce retail sales in 2023.

At the beginning of January we announced the release of our annual sales tax survey. This year’s results provided insights into how businesses are managing the complexities of sales tax and how they are being impacted by economic and regulatory structures. The nationwide survey, conducted by In90Group in November of 2023, is composed of responses from 100 top finance professionals in a variety of industries regarding their thoughts and experiences in managing sales tax. 5 of our key findings relating to the impact of sales tax are below:

There’s always something changing in the world of tax, especially sales tax. Here’s a review of some of the recent changes and updates.

To help financial leaders better understand what their peers are doing when it comes to sales and use tax in 2024, TaxConnex® conducted its fourth annual sales tax survey in November of 2023. More than 100 financial leaders from different industries and from a wide range of sizes responded. Their responses are included in the following blog.

Sales tax compliance depends on many factors. One of the most important – and the most incessantly changing – is the tax rates that America’s thousands of jurisdictions impose.

Sales tax is not something top of mind for most executives, but it is something that the majority of businesses will have to manage at some level. No matter the size of your business, if you are selling a taxable product or service and establishing nexus in specific states or jurisdictions, then you have a sales tax obligation. While it is not meant to be a burden on the seller, many businesses have been left scrambling to understand how to manage the complex process of sales tax compliance. There are many moving parts and as states continue to make adjustments to their statutes, it is important to stay in the know.

Well, it’s Groundhog Day ... again ... – Phil Connors, Groundhog Day

Every now and then something comes along that transforms sales tax. The 2018 Wayfair decision was such a milestone. Another was the advent of the likes of marketplace facilitators such as Amazon, Etsy and eBay, among others.

Clients often ask us, “How often should we evaluate the taxability of our products?” An annual review should work. Most states change their sales tax rate laws on either Jan. 1 or July 1, by the calendar year or by the fiscal year.

Sales and use tax generally applies to the sale or use of tangible personal property and certain services. Since software, and especially Software-as-a-Service, may not be delivered in a tangible form, many technology and software companies have considered themselves exempt from sales and use tax. But this is not always the case. In fact, many states impose sales and use tax on services provided by the technology industry.

What’s the latest brewing today in sales tax? A lot, spanning many hot topics – and if you can believe it, not all the news is bad.

Do you sell software-as-a-service (SaaS)? Then you already have one of the most complicated situations in sales tax.

Business explosions are often followed by money-making opportunities within those businesses. With TikTok, the red-hot display showcase of short videos and influencers with more than a billion monthly active users, that opportunity takes the form of TikTok Shop.

We are excited to announce the completion of our fourth annual sales tax survey.

No year’s ever dull in sales tax, and the pace has only accelerated in the five years since the Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision. In 2023, familiar trends and new issues showed up across the states.

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to make sure you’re complying with sales tax in 2024?