Sales Tax Compliance
Handling sales tax so you don't have to track rates and deadlines across multiple states. We determine where you have nexus, register your business, file returns, and remit payments on time.
The Tangle
Sales tax used to be straightforward. You collected tax on sales made in your state and that was it. Then in 2018 the Supreme Court ruled that states can require out-of-state sellers to collect and remit sales tax based on economic activity alone. Now you might owe taxes in states where you have never set foot.
Each state sets its own threshold for when you are required to register. Different rates apply. Different rules govern what is taxable. Filing frequencies vary from monthly to quarterly to annually. If you sell online or do business across state lines you are looking at a patchwork of obligations that keeps expanding.
Nexus Determination
Nexus Determination
We figure out where you actually owe. We look at your sales data, customer locations, and each state’s threshold requirements. Then we build a clear picture of your filing obligations so nothing slips through.
Registration
Registration
Once we know where you have nexus we handle the registration paperwork. Every state has its own application process and account setup. We complete the forms and get you properly registered before the first return is due.
The Liability
Sales tax is not your money. When a customer pays you $107 on a $100 sale that $7 belongs to the state. You are holding it in trust. States treat unpaid sales tax like funds that were never yours to spend because from their perspective that is exactly what it is.
The penalties accumulate fast. Most states charge interest on unpaid tax plus a percentage penalty for late filing. Some states add additional penalties for failure to register. Unlike income tax there is little room to negotiate. You owe what you owe plus whatever they add on top.
Audit Exposure
Audit Exposure
States share data now. They can see your sales into their jurisdiction through marketplace reports and payment processor records. If you are selling into a state and not remitting tax it is only a matter of time before a notice arrives.
Catch-Up Problem
Catch-Up Problem
The longer you wait the worse it gets. If you should have been collecting sales tax for the past three years and were not you might owe that tax out of your own pocket. You cannot go back and collect it from customers who already paid.
The System
We track the deadlines. We monitor the rates. We file the returns and make the payments. You do not have to remember which states are due monthly and which are due quarterly. You do not have to check if rates changed in California or if Texas updated their thresholds. That is our responsibility.
You get a clear report of what was filed, where, and for how much. You know exactly what your sales tax obligations look like across every state. When something changes we update the system and keep moving forward.
Timely Filing
Timely Filing
Every return gets filed on time. Every payment gets remitted before the deadline. You stop worrying about whether you forgot a state or missed a due date. The compliance runs in the background while you focus on growing sales.
Complete Coverage
Complete Coverage
Whether you are in two states or twenty we handle the full scope. New nexus triggered in another state? We register you and add it to the filing calendar. Your business expands and we expand with you.
The Merrimack Valley's Trusted Accounting Partner
The Next Step:
A 15-Minute Call
Tell us about your business and what you're dealing with. We'll listen, ask a few questions, and give you a straightforward quote.