Robert Dumas

Robert Dumas

Accountant, consultant and entrepreneur, Robert Dumas began his public accounting career on the tax staff at Arthur Young & Co., followed by a brief stint at Grant Thornton. In 1998, Robert founded Tax Partners, which became the largest sales tax compliance service bureau in the country, and later sold it to Thomson Corporation. Robert founded TaxConnex in 2006 on the principle that the sales tax industry needed more than automation to truly help clients, thus building within TaxConnex a proprietary platform and network of sales tax experts to truly take sales tax off client’s plates.

Recent posts by Robert Dumas

6 min read

3 Options for Optimizing Your Telecom Product Catalog

By Robert Dumas on Tue, Dec 19, 2023 @ 11:00 AM

This blog is an excerpt from our eBook with The CommLaw Group.

As a communications company, you face some of the most complex tax and regulatory rules of any industry. Whether you run an established business or you’re thinking about entering the VoIP, UCaaS, or other telecom market, it is important to understand your compliance obligations. Just as important … you need to comply while keeping your price competitive.

How do you do this? By optimizing your telecom compliance process!

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax telecom tax
3 min read

Services: Taxable or not?

By Robert Dumas on Thu, Dec 14, 2023 @ 11:46 AM

In sales tax calculation, you deal with the “hard” and the “less-hard.”

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax taxability exemptions
4 min read

Sales tax ‘responsible party’ laws still going strong

By Robert Dumas on Tue, Dec 12, 2023 @ 11:21 AM

Business truism has it that limited liability corporations and similar entities shield the personal property and assets of their owners and major shareholders from company bills and missteps. That’s true for many of the fiscal messes that can befall a company.

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax sales tax audits
3 min read

What’s new in sales tax?

By Robert Dumas on Thu, Dec 07, 2023 @ 11:05 AM

There’s always something changing in the world of tax, especially sales tax. Here’s a review of some of the recent 2023 sales tax changes and updates.

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax sales tax news
3 min read

Does sales tax apply to memberships?

By Robert Dumas on Tue, Dec 05, 2023 @ 12:03 PM

Clubs and dues have been around for decades, but the rise of certain memberships – and the ability to sell them over the Internet – have also raised the question of whether there's a sales tax on memberships and dues.

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax
3 min read

Should you charge sales tax to international customers?

By Robert Dumas on Tue, Nov 28, 2023 @ 11:20 AM

Selling outside the U.S. does not free you from the complexities of sales tax. Many countries enforce sales tax, presenting challenges for international sales. While it may resemble U.S. practices, nuances vary for international customers and purchases.

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax internationaltax VAT
3 min read

5 Situations CPAs Need to Watch for in Managing Their Clients' Sales & Use Tax Risk

By Robert Dumas on Tue, Nov 21, 2023 @ 12:33 PM

In the world of accounting and tax, CPAs, accounting firms, and advisory firms play a vital role in helping individuals and businesses manage their finances and stay within the rules. But one tricky area that often causes headaches is sales and use tax.

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax sales tax filing
4 min read

A Strategic Timeline for Implementing a Sales Tax Strategy and Process - Part 2

By Robert Dumas on Tue, Nov 14, 2023 @ 11:19 AM

A job as intimidating as setting up a system to handle your sales tax obligations can be a lot easier if you have an idea how long it will take. As with most aspects of sales tax, there are no fixed answers, but we can give you an idea.

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax sales tax filing
3 min read

A Strategic Timeline for Implementing a Sales Tax Strategy and Process - Part 1

By Robert Dumas on Thu, Nov 09, 2023 @ 11:49 AM

Exactly how long will it take you to set up a process to evaluate and comply with your sales tax obligations? It depends on your business and where you are in your sales tax journey. It could take as little as a month or so or up to six months (or more).

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax registrations
2 min read

Your need-to-know: vendor compensations and discounts

By Robert Dumas on Tue, Nov 07, 2023 @ 11:50 AM

Hard to believe if you’ve ever dealt with sales tax jurisdictions, but they will actually give you a break on paying your sales tax in the form of vendor discounts and compensations.

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax sales tax calculation sales tax filing
3 min read

Don't Forget Sales Tax When It Comes to Year-End Planning for Your Clients!

By Robert Dumas on Thu, Nov 02, 2023 @ 11:00 AM

 

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax CPA
3 min read

Sales Tax Horror Stories: Adding new products without checking taxability

By Robert Dumas on Tue, Oct 31, 2023 @ 11:11 AM

Adding a new product is great, new revenue streams are wonderful. Just don’t let sales tax turn the situation into a nightmare.

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax taxability economic nexus
3 min read

Sales Tax Horror Stories: Automation

By Robert Dumas on Thu, Oct 26, 2023 @ 12:06 PM

Sales tax is a major obligation for your business. As with most such obligations, you probably ask, “Can automation help me?”

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax sales tax calculation software
2 min read

Sales Tax Horror Stories: Audits

By Robert Dumas on Tue, Oct 24, 2023 @ 12:39 PM

“Scary” has five letters. Know what word in sales tax also has five letters?

“Audit.”

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax sales tax audits
2 min read

Sales Tax Horror Stories: Notices

By Robert Dumas on Thu, Oct 19, 2023 @ 12:07 PM

Often as things change in sales tax – and they change often – one constant keeps lurching along. Tax jurisdictions love to send notices, and usually it’s to say “Boo!” and not just “Hi.”

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax
3 min read

Sales Tax Horror Stories: M&A

By Robert Dumas on Thu, Oct 12, 2023 @ 11:16 AM

The past two years have seen nearly 46,000 M&As in the United States. It's clear that nothing can boost a business like the right merger or acquisition.

Yet many of these deals tank: as many as 70% to 90%, Harvard Business School has reported. And one thing that can pound a stake through the heart of a promising M&A is unearthing past tax liability during due diligence.

Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax sales tax audits