Of the 50 states, 45 (plus DC) charge a state-wide sales tax. Two of those states that have a state-wide sales tax, Missouri and Florida, have yet to adopt economic nexus standards set by the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair case. At least for now.

There’s always something changing in the world of tax, especially sales tax. And 2021 continues to prove that. Here’s a review of some of the recent changes and updates.

At the end of last year, TaxConnex commissioned Porter Research Group to conduct a survey of 100 finance leaders to understand the growing concerns they face related to sales tax heading into 2021.

If your online company looks to expand its interstate sales in 2021, know one thing: Your plan involves risks and new responsibilities. The key is learning how to manage both, as sales tax non-compliance or errors can bring stiff penalties.

Picking the right provider to handle your business’s sales and use tax compliance is a big decision.

TaxConnex works with a lot of telecommunications service providers that are new to the business. Many are existing MSP’s (Managed Service Providers) or IT management companies that would like to expand their service offering and become “stickier” with their clients.  They may have infrastructure in place to support the sales tax requirements of their existing business, but the telecommunications service presents a different set of issues.

An exemption is an exception that eliminates the need to pay sales tax. The presumption is that all sales of tangible personal property are taxable unless specifically enumerated. The purchaser has the responsibility for determining whether a sale is exempt from tax. If the purchaser does not submit a valid exemption certificate to the business, the business must assess and collect the sales tax from the purchaser. The responsibility to determine the validity of the exemption certificate resides with the business. Without this exemption certificate, the state or jurisdiction in which you are registered will expect you to have collected sales tax. 

Someday people will probably use a lot of words to describe 2020. “Un-eventful” won’t be one of them.

The year’s ongoing pandemic affected almost every aspect of life – including, and in no small way, sales tax, which was already an area that has seen unprecedented change since the Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision in 2018.

Add to that, jurisdictions that are worried about how lockdowns have affected their tax revenue and you have a tumultuous year.

Here’s a look back at some of the year’s developments. 

With nearly 50 million Americans losing their jobs earlier this year and 11 million still unemployed nearly 10 months after the pandemic began, the reality of being forced to do more with less is being felt in every corner of almost every company, including the finance department. Hiring freezes and budget restrictions have left many finance teams struggling to keep up.

We understand that sales and use tax may not be your biggest priority, but if not managed correctly, it can cause major headaches. Understanding the various aspects of your sales tax process is critical to minimize your risk and to keep your business on solid ground as it relates to sales tax.

States may be getting tougher on sales tax delinquents as the pandemic drags on and tax revenues, in many places, take hits. Just ask Fiorella’s Landscaping in western New York.

Technology companies, and specifically software companies, have always had challenges related to managing sales tax. Understanding where they have a physical presence as well as the varying taxability rules associated with their products and services was complex. But with the proliferation of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) as a delivery mechanism and Wayfair, the sales tax landscape has become exponentially more complex.

Tech companies – especially those dealing in downloads of software and (SaaS) delivery – can protect themselves if they understand key terms and processes.

Sales tax is complicated no matter the industry you are in. But the leasing industry brings out even more complicated nuances depending on the type of lease, support activities and even the leased item itself.

If you’re a construction contractor – especially if you’re engaged in contracts in different states – you have to evaluate your sales tax responsibilities in each state where you have customers.