Take Charge of Your Sales and Use
Tax
In one day of intensive training on sales
tax and use tax, this seminar will review the major issues facing
sellers and buyers. This class will help make your operation more
efficient, save unnecessary taxes, make audits easier, and avoid penalties. At the end of
the day, you'll know about the things your company should be worried
about, and how to deal with them.
This seminar is ideal for
professionals from accounts payable, accounting, purchasing, operations,
sales, and executive management.
States Covered
This course is always geared for
the state where the seminar is physically located. While it's
possible to discuss multiple states in detail in the same seminar, we've
tried it. And it gets very confusing very fast. It really
doesn't work. Therefore, in order to meet the needs of
participants who are from other states, or who have operations in other
states, we always discuss the laws in the local state in detail.
But we also compare and contrast with the way most other states handle
the issue. This approach gives all of the participants some
context and an understanding of the way the issue is generally
handled. Local participants
will also know how their state does it.
Seminar Topics Typically Discussed
This seminar can be modified for
private, on-site seminars. Customizations include expanding or
contracting topic list, covering multiple states in detail (see above
for the problems with this), expanding or
contracting the time of the seminar, etc. Please contact
us
Please note that this is a training seminar
designed to provide participants with information to educate them on sales
and use tax issues. It is not a substitute for a consulting
engagement. It is very likely that, during the seminar, the
trainer will advise that a particular topic be discussed with other local sales and use
tax professionals.
Please note this is a topic list
for our standard seminar. The actual agenda of the seminar will vary
based on needs of the participants and topics requested.
The Basic Theory
- The sources of sales and use tax laws
- Self-assessment of use tax
- The difference between sales tax and
use tax
- Why use tax exists
- Interstate sales and how use tax
applies
- Tangible personal property vs.
real property
- Complementary taxes
- Seller and customer responsibilities
- Absorption and separation
- Occasional or casual sales
- Interstate commerce
- Timing of the transaction - which
state has jurisdiction
Major Tax Traps
- Failure to pay use tax
- Failure to get certificates (good
faith acceptance)
- Out of state shipments
- Nexus
- Drop shipments
- Sale of services in other states
- Exempt organizations
- Inter-company transactions
- Paying or charging wrong taxes
- Temporary storage
- Movement of property to another
jurisdiction
Opportunities for Tax Savings
- Manipulating delivery points
- Charging appropriate taxes
- Avoiding accrual of taxes on
non-taxable transactions
- Knowing exemptions for your industry
- Carefully researching major
transactions
- Bad debts and returns
Nexus
- What is nexus?
- What typically gives a seller nexus in
a state
- Trade shows
- The impact of nexus on sellers
- How states find sellers
- Mail order and Internet sales
- Voluntary disclosure (amnesty) programs
Resources
- Free Web resources
- Not-so-free Web resources
- Books worth owning
- Industry associations
- Online subscriptions
- Newsletters
- Using lawyers and accountants more
effectively
- Using the revenue department
- Systems - policies and procedures to
help you comply with the law
Tax Basis
- Finance charges
- Discounts
- Coupons
- Returned goods
- Bad debts
- Freight and delivery charges
- Handling charges
- Installation charges
- Trade-ins
- Gratuities
Industrial Variations
- Manufacturing
- Agriculture
- Construction contractors
- Governments
- Non-profits
Other Taxing Policies
- Admissions
- Cleaning and janitorial services
- Clothing
- Food
- Motor vehicles
- Printing and publishing
- Leases and rentals
- Computers and software
- Drugs, medicine and equipment
- Repairs services
- Security services
- Personal services
- Professional services
- Utilities
- and more!
Dealing with Audits and Auditors
- Who do you trust
- Professional treatment
- Getting the right answer
- Calling in the professional
Local Taxing Issues
- Situs (sourcing rules)
- Local (county, parish, city)
variations on taxability will be addressed on a very limited basis
Please note that this is a training seminar
designed to provide participants with information to educate them on sales
and use tax issues. It is not a substitute for a consulting
engagement. It is very likely that, during the seminar, the
trainer will advise that a particular topic be discussed with other local sales and use
tax professionals.
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