States Get Tougher on Business Sales & Use Taxes

When your AP department gets an invoice from a vendor that does not charge tax, there is no gray area. Tax liability is not a matter that can be ignored. Businesses are expected to pay sales and use tax - or face fines for failing to do so. As states' rules change, vendors that may not have been collecting tax may soon be required to do so. It will be important for accounts payable to monitor changes in the vendor actions and respond appropriately. Many e-commerce rules are undergoing a transformation, and vendors that have not collected tax in the past are being required to do so now. The reason for this sales tax initiative is that cash-strapped states want to capture the millions of e-commerce tax dollars that are not being currently collected by retailers.