Are you unhappy with your sales tax compliance provider? You’d be surprised to find that you are not alone in this and switching may not be as hard as it seems.

Transitioning To a New Provider

We have found there are too many people unhappy with their sales tax process. To add insult to injury they are paying tens of thousands of dollars for it. This begs the question, why? Why stick with an expensive software or automation service that isn’t helping you with the things you stand in need of? 

Most times the answer is that these businesses do not want to go through the process of establishing a sales tax provider again.

We are here to tell you that there is a better, easier way. While it may seem difficult to transition to a new provider or switch platforms we can assure you that it is not as difficult as you may think. 

In fact, it is something we help businesses do quite often. Here are 4 simple steps on things you can do to make the transition easier.

Gather the Necessary Documentation 

Before making the switch, it’s important to get your tax and legal documentation in order. This is important because it streamlines onboarding with the new provider and ensures you don’t lose any important documents in the transition.

Important documents include current tax calendar, return filing frequency, sales tax ID numbers, exemption certificates and any other relevant items. You’ll also want to secure copies of returns and reports from your current provider.

Send a Cancellation Notice

Once you’ve selected a new sales tax compliance provider, you’ll need to cancel your engagement with the current provider. The notice will need to specify the final date of the engagement, and how you’d like them to handle any returns during that period.

Ideally, you’ll want to do this after you’ve selected your new provider so you can avoid a situation where you temporarily have no sales tax support.

Before sending a cancellation, it’s worth reviewing the terms of your current engagement. Does the contract have a cancellation policy? How far ahead do you need to provide notice of the cancellation? This simple review will help you avoid unexpected fees or issues while making the switch.

Determine How to Respond to Prior Notices

When you leave your current provider, there will likely be open notices or processes that are still in progress. Sometimes your previous provider will receive these notices, even after you’ve left. It’s in your best interest to resolve these issues before your current engagement ends, as the provider might be hard to get a hold of after your departure.

Onboarding

Once you’ve selected a sales tax consultant, it’s easy to get started. If you’ve done your homework gathering all of your documentation, you can share this with your new partner and start a formal onboarding process. At this stage, the provider will conduct a thorough review of your business and liability, then work with you to identify and execute the next steps.

Looking for a Better Process?

Look no further.

If sales tax is keeping you up at night, find peace of mind and a good night’s sleep with a “What’s Next Call.” It’s free and we will help you find a better sales tax process that you can feel confident about. We would be honored to work with you.