Your company must proactively recognize and address important multi-state sales tax obligations on a daily basis. States can impose sales tax obligations on your company even if your only presence in a state is an occasional visit by an employee or an independent contractor. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, states may now require remote sellers with no physical presence in a state to collect sales tax on sales of taxable products and services delivered to customers in that state. This ruling does not simply affect online retailers, but all sellers of taxable goods and services who make sales into state in which they lack physical presence. If you fail to register for and meet these filing obligations, states can go back as long as you have been doing business (i.e., had nexus) in their jurisdiction to impose liabilities. The significance of these obligations can be overwhelming, and is frequently overlooked until a company finds itself “putting out fires”, as opposed to proactively meeting and minimizing these obligations, and seeking potential refund opportunities.
