Working With an Accountant on Sales Tax
Sales tax is a good place to get help. Here is how to make that partnership work.
Bring in a sales tax professional for the parts that earn their fee, multi state nexus, past exposure, and unusual products, while you keep the ongoing tracking and collection accurate. Arrive with clean data on where and how much you sell and your nexus status, and stay involved enough to understand your own exposure.
Know when to bring help in
You can handle the basics yourself, but multi state nexus, past exposure, and unusual products are where a sales tax professional earns their fee. Recognizing that line saves you costly mistakes. Related: Economic Nexus: A State by State Reality
Keep reading: Economic Nexus: A State by State Reality, How to Know When You Are Approaching Nexus, Registering in a New State, Step by Step. See how ShopTaxie helps you sales tax nexus tracking and filing reminders.
Come prepared
An accountant works faster and cheaper when you arrive with clean data: where you sell, how much, and your nexus status by state. Good tracking on your side is what makes their help affordable. Related: Why does inventory sitting in a third-party fulfillment warehouse create nexus in that state?
Divide the work
A sensible split is that you keep the ongoing tracking and collection accurate, while your accountant handles the judgment calls and filings. Each side does what it does best, and nothing falls through the gap.
Stay involved
Handing sales tax entirely to someone else and forgetting it is a mistake. Staying informed enough to understand your own exposure keeps you in control and makes the partnership stronger. Related: Voluntary Disclosure: Fixing Past Exposure
- Bring in help for nexus, past exposure, and edge cases
- Arrive with clean, organized data
- Split ongoing tracking from judgment and filings
- Stay involved enough to understand your exposure
Julien Jimenez
Julien Jimenez is an independent software builder based in Paris. He designs, ships, and operates focused SaaS products for small businesses and independent professionals. Read the full author page.
Frequently asked questions
When is it worth hiring help for sales tax?
You can handle the basics yourself, but multi state nexus, past exposure, and unusual products are where a sales tax professional earns their fee. Recognizing that line saves costly mistakes.
How do I make working with an accountant cheaper?
Come prepared with clean data: where you sell, how much, and your nexus status by state. Good tracking on your side is what makes their help faster and more affordable.
Know where you owe before it is a problem
Sales tax nexus tracking and filing reminders. ShopTaxie is built to help you put this into practice.
Check my nexusMore from the ShopTaxie blog
Economic Nexus: A State by State Reality
How to Know When You Are Approaching Nexus
Registering in a New State, Step by Step
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