Sona Akmakjian is the Global Head of Strategic Accounting Partnerships at Avalara. With over 28 years of experience in transaction tax services and consulting, she has a wealth of expertise, with particular strengths in areas such as strategic alliances, relationship management, executive collaboration, and product management in all consulting and software environments.

Over the years, Sona has established herself as a thought leader in the field of transactional tax automation. She has deep industry knowledge, which she gained from her experience working for a state tax agency and administering sales and use taxes. Additionally, Sona has Big Four accounting firm experience, tech software experience, and mid-market consulting experience.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many companies had started using automation to improve and scale their business processes. When the pandemic struck, it only accelerated this automation process, as more organizations saw the importance of digital solutions.

This is just one of many trends that have emerged due to the current crisis. Others include globalization and a significant boost in the e-commerce industry. All of these changes have—and will continue to have—an impact on the collection, accounting, and remittance of sales tax in the country.

Sona Akmakjian, the Global Head of Strategic Accounting Partnerships at Avalara, joins Michael J. Fleming and Ellie Moffat in this week's episode of Sales Tax and More to discuss the current sales tax trends in the country. Sona talks about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on automation, taxation, and the e-commerce industry. She also shares the results from the recent Avalara survey about the effects of the Wayfair case on retailers and businesses. Stay tuned.

Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.

Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.

Most issues related to sales tax can be traced back to one or more of the seven pillars of sales tax success. These are the foundation blocks to any successful sales tax strategy, and, according to Michael J. Fleming, they can help a business mitigate or eliminate possible exposures during an audit.

So what are these seven pillars? They include nexus, exemption certificate management, registrations, and more. Michael and his team at Sales Tax and More want to help you stay aware of these pillars, as failure to comply can often lead to penalties and interest.

In this week's episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming sits down with his co-host Ellie Moffat to talk about the seven pillars of a successful sales tax strategy. He explains where the pillars come from, why they are important, and how they help businesses during a tax audit. Stay tuned.

Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.

Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.

According to a recent survey conducted by Avalara, approximately 50% of companies are not sales tax compliant. Michael J. Fleming believes that there are many reasons behind this non-compliance, including complacency or a lack of knowledge on the part of the concerned parties.

However, if a company has nexus in a state, then it is required to register, collect, and remit sales tax. So what do you need to know in order to stay proactive and avoid the consequences of sales tax non-compliance?

In this week's episode of Sales Tax and More, Michael J. Fleming is interviewed by his co-host Ellie Moffat about his thoughts on the recent survey done by Avalara on sales tax compliance. He talks about the main reasons that companies have been non-compliant, the greatest areas of exposure for these companies, and how CPAs can help their clients resolve issues with non-compliance. Stay tuned.

Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.

Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.

Is Canadian sales tax something that US sellers need to worry about? The answer, like so many other answers when it comes to sales tax, is it depends. That's why Michael J. Fleming of Sales Tax and More is here to break down everything you need to know about sales tax in Canada.

In Canada, there are two levels of tax: federal level taxes and local level taxes. And, unlike the US, Canada has almost no tax exemptions, except for a certificate that can be used with indigenous peoples. Additionally, the term "nexus" is not used in Canada when referring to sales tax—instead, they say "carrying on business." So how does this apply to you and your business?

In this week's episode of Sales Tax and More, co-hosts Michael J. Fleming and Ellie Moffat discuss the collection and remittance of sales tax in Canada. Michael explains the major differences between taxation in the US and Canada, and when it is appropriate for US sellers to register in the country. Stay tuned.

Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.

Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.

A recent study carried out by Avalara showed that many companies have not been compliant with the Wayfair ruling of 2018, meaning that they have failed to collect and submit sales tax. According to Michael J. Fleming, one of the reasons behind this noncompliance is simply a lack of knowledge. So what do e-commerce sellers need to know about sales tax in 2020?

Whether or not you need to file for sales tax as an e-commerce seller depends on a number of different factors. For example, physical nexus could be created on the basis of having inventory in Amazon warehouses, even if the seller is not physically present in a given state.

In this week's episode of Sales Tax and More, co-hosts Michael J. Fleming and Ellie Moffat talk about the collection and filing of sales tax for e-commerce sellers. Tune in as they discuss how sales tax applies to sellers using different online platforms, why some companies have been reluctant to comply with the Wayfair ruling, and how this non-compliance will impact their businesses.

Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.

Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.

The answer is yes: Many services are taxable, and each year more states increase their lists of taxable services. In most cases, whether or not a service is taxable depends on the state where the service is provided, as well as what type of service it is. However, it could also depend on the facts and circumstances surrounding the transaction.

So why is there so much confusion about the taxation of services? According to Michael J. Fleming, services have historically been non-taxable, so some businesses still assume that their services are not subject to tax. Unfortunately, due to changes in the economy, states have decided to start taxing services in order to boost their overall revenue.

In this week's episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming is interviewed by his co-host Ellie Moffat about the taxation of services in various states. Michael highlights the different services that are taxable, the states that tend to be more aggressive than others, and the reason why many people get confused by their taxation. Stay tuned.

TJ Hyland is the Head of e-Commerce Partnerships in the US at Payoneer, a digital payment platform that empowers businesses around the world to grow globally. His primary focus is building Payoneer's US partner ecosystem and supporting its ever-growing niche in the online seller market. He is responsible for everything from helping sellers complete cross-border transactions to assisting them with the capital they need to grow their businesses.

As an e-commerce specialist and foreign exchange consultant, TJ has a unique insight into selling on international marketplaces. After working with online sellers for the past six years, he knows the struggles they face on a daily basis—and how to solve them.

Many online sellers source their inventory from international markets like China, meaning that they often require a large amount of working capital. Therefore, for these sellers, having extra cash flow is crucial for keeping their inventory in stock and their businesses afloat.

However, many sellers face great challenges when it comes to funding or possessing additional working capital. This is largely due to the fact that most commercial banks are weary of giving loans to such businesses—despite the exponential growth of the e-commerce industry. So what alternative funding solutions are available for online sellers?

TJ Hyland, the Head of e-Commerce Partnerships in the US at Payoneer, joins Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat in this week's episode of Sales Tax and More to talk about the various working capital solutions available for online sellers. Tune in as TJ shares how extra cash flow impacts the inventory cycle, the common sources of funding for online sellers, and how Payoneer's Capital Advance solution helps businesses grow globally.

Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, dropshipping, e-commerce, and service providers.

Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.

Before the Wayfair ruling, dropshipping companies didn't have to register for sales tax in states that didn't collect it. In fact, due to their business models, most dropshipping companies didn't have to register for sales tax at all.

However, since the Wayfair ruling, these companies are now responsible for registering everywhere across the country that collects sales tax. What's more, dropshippers are having to ask for resale certificates in order to protect themselves from vendors that have nexus in different states. So what can these dropshipping companies do to avoid additional charges and better understand the world of sales tax?

In this episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, co-hosts Michael J. Fleming and Ellie Moffat sit down to talk about dropshipping and sales tax in a post-Wayfair world. Michael discusses how dropshippers have been impacted by the Wayfair ruling, why there is persisting confusion around resale certificates, and his recommendations to dropshipping companies on how to deal with sales tax. Stay tuned.

Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, e-commerce, and service providers.

Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.

When a State finds out that a seller supposed to have registered for sales tax has failed to do so, it will seek out that seller and require him to pay all the taxes he should have paid including any penalties and interest accrued. The State can decide to go back as far as 7-8 years or even the first day the seller started selling in that particular State, which is the first day of nexus.

In such cases, negotiation with the State is often out of the question. But the seller can reach out to the State and enter into a Voluntary Disclosure Agreement (VDA) which will lead to reduced back taxes, reduced penalties and reduced or waived interest. However, there are limitations to doing a VDA.

In this week's episode of the Sales Tax and More Podcast, co-hosts Michael Fleming and Ellie Moffat talk about the use and limitations of Voluntary Disclosure Agreements (VDAs). Michael starts by explaining what a VDA refers to and when it makes sense to use it, and then shares alternative solutions.

Michael J. Fleming is the founder and president of Sales Tax and More, a full service consulting and solutions firm with a passion for state tax. He is one of the country's leading authorities on sales tax issues such as consulting and research, registrations, returns, nexus, drop shipping, e-commerce, and service providers.

Michael is a renowned writer and speaker, and he regularly presents on webinars. He is also the host of the Sales Tax and More podcast, where he shares his wisdom and learnings to his audience in order to help them navigate the tricky world of taxes.

Many sellers are under the impression that they do not have to worry about the collection and filing of sales tax returns because they have not established a physical presence in a given state. This is, however, not the case. As sales tax expert Michael J. Fleming explains, economic nexus can still be established if the seller meets the threshold requirements of that particular state.

In recent years, some states have started to pursue and penalize the sellers that have defaulted on their sales tax. Although this was halted due to the COVID-19 crisis, these states will continue to reach out to sellers once the country returns to a level of normalcy. So what should you do to avoid back taxes, penalties, interest, and, in some cases, jail time? Michael J. Fleming has all the answers.

In this week's episode of the Sales Tax and More podcast, Michael J. Fleming sits down with his co-host Ellie Moffat to discuss why having physical presence matters more than ever when it comes to filing sales tax returns. Michael explains what sellers should do to reduce their amount of owed back taxes, penalties, and interest, and when it is appropriate to do a Voluntary Disclosure Agreement (VDA). Stay tuned.