Sales & Use Taxes: A Practical Approach Self-Study Webinar
Overview
Sales and use tax rules vary widely by state and create compliance challenges for organizations of all sizes. This self-study webinar delivers a clear, practical foundation for understanding how sales and use taxes apply across jurisdictions, with a focus on identifying risk, avoiding common errors, and responding effectively to increased enforcement. Participants will walk away with a stronger grasp of how to approach multistate sales and use tax issues with confidence and consistency. You’ll learn how to:
- Evaluate multistate exposure and recognize when sales and use tax obligations arise
- Apply consistent, defensible approaches to compliance in a changing regulatory environment
- Prepare for audits, transactions, and other events that can trigger increased scrutiny
This course qualifies for IRS Continuing Education Credit.
Objective
To equip CPAs and other finance professionals with the practical knowledge and analytical framework needed to identify sales and use tax obligations, apply state-specific rules correctly, manage compliance and reporting, and proactively address audit, M&A, and multistate risk.
DETAILED LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Define sales and use tax nexus and explain its importance in state tax compliance
• Identify physical presence activities that create sales and use tax nexus
• Evaluate economic nexus standards adopted by states following Wayfair
• Distinguish between physical, economic, attributional, and click-through nexus
• Analyze how independent contractors, sales representatives, and third parties create nexus
• Assess nexus exposure related to inventory, leased property, and owned tangible personal property
• Evaluate nexus risks associated with employee travel and remote work arrangements
• Explain how states identify noncompliant taxpayers through audits, data sharing, and third-party leads
• Determine whether tangible personal property is taxable by default and identify applicable exemptions
• Distinguish between taxable and non-taxable services across various states
• Apply the true object test to transactions involving bundled goods and services
• Evaluate the taxability of software based on delivery method and classification
• Differentiate between SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS for sales and use tax purposes
• Assess taxability issues related to digital goods and electronically delivered products
• Determine when manufacturing exemptions apply to tangible personal property
• Analyze the tax treatment of shipping and handling charges
• Apply destination and origin sourcing rules to tangible personal property transactions
• Determine proper sourcing for services based on performance location and benefit received
• Apply hierarchy-based sourcing rules to digital property transactions
• Explain the purpose and application of consumer use tax
• Identify common areas of use tax exposure for businesses
• Evaluate credit availability for tax paid to other jurisdictions
• Analyze audit risks related to purchases, fixed assets, and intercompany transactions
• Determine when sellers should register for sales tax or seller’s use tax
• Compare registration strategies including prospective registration, historical registration, and VDAs
• Evaluate the benefits and limitations of voluntary disclosure agreements
• Identify common registration errors and compliance pitfalls
• Assess the role of exemption certificates in sales tax compliance
• Evaluate risks associated with drop shipping transactions
• Analyze how sales and use tax liabilities impact mergers, acquisitions, and business valuations
Emphasis
- Understanding nexus: myths, facts, and common nexus-creating activities
- Taxability differences by state and associated case studies
- Rates and sourcing
- Use tax breakdown by state and common problems
- Registrations, voluntary disclosure agreements (VDAs), and amnesties
- Certificates and drop shipping
- Sales tax returns
- Auditing strategies
- Issues in mergers and acquisitions
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