Why E-Commerce Businesses Should Work with a Tax Professional

Let’s face it: Navigating e-commerce business taxes and tax laws is confusing and tedious.

By Andrea MacDonald, CPA

In recent years, sales tax rates have been constantly changing, and that complicates sales tax charges. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds! As an e-commerce business owner, tax planning is crucial to your operations, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be stressful. Instead, hiring a tax professional can make complying with sales tax regulations far easier.

Image of a computer monitor with e-commerce related graphics on the Pro Tax & Accounting blog

Hiring a tax professional to manage e-commerce tax planning has many benefits. For example, working with someone who understands tax legislation gets the job done fast. This gives you time to focus on other business areas. Additionally, e-commerce sales tax rates are complex and ever-changing. Incorrect collection and filing mean hefty fees and fines. A Certified Public Accountant will ensure compliance to avoid fines. They’ll be current on the existing laws, and they can be a great resource in restoring peace of mind.

E-Commerce Tax Works Differently

E-commerce tax is notoriously murky and complex territory. It makes it hard for business owners to prepare in advance. Even prior experience managing traditional sales tax does not mean you’re ready to take on e-commerce tax planning. That’s why you’ll want a professional on your side to avoid these top (costly) compliance mistakes:

Not filing because no tax collected:

A CPA will make sure you file on-time each reporting period – even if you didn’t collect anything.

Losing track of different states’ filing rules:

A CPA remains the current sales tax rates and collection requirements.

Reporting the wrong numbers:

If your state requires tax breakdowns based on jurisdictions or other categories, a CPA will compute accurate numbers.

Woman sitting with a cup of coffee looking at a computer tablet with an e-commerce graphic of a shopping cart on the Pro Tax & Accounting blog

It Varies Across States

Unlike sales tax for brick-and-mortar stores, e-commerce sales tax varies across states. When a CPA determines how much sales tax your e-commerce business needs to pay, they’ll be looking at the following factors:

Where you’re doing business

This includes physical location, like the location of employees or contractors, storage location, and transaction/sales location. Most states require you to pay sales tax wherever your physical location is, but this can vary with new legislation.

Affiliates

If you’re selling products through affiliates, you might have to pay sales tax on those products wherever they’re sold. This is a tricky area of e-commerce business taxes. A CPA will help discern what legislation your state has and file accordingly. It’s also important to note that many states have set laws about when sales tax is applicable based on sale thresholds.

So, if you were selling products to consumers in Virginia, you wouldn’t have to worry about paying sales tax until your sales reached that threshold. Every state’s limit changes over time, so you’ll want to make sure you stay on top of where every state you have sales in stands.

Hiring an E-Commerce Tax Professional

Once you determine that hiring a tax professional is right for you, you’ll want to select one based on their training, background, and license. There are many different types of tax professionals. Specifically, look for Certified Public Accountants, or CPAs. Certified by the state and generally highly trained, CPAs are also required to undergo continued education. This is crucial in making sure your tax professional stays up to date with the various sales tax regulations.

Of course, CPAs come in a variety of specializations, so be sure the one you choose has e-commerce tax experience. E-commerce business taxes are complicated and confusing, even for the most seasoned business owners. Leave the DIY for other areas of your business. Don’t waste time and energy muddling through the tax laws for each state. Hire a tax professional to stay compliant, and restore peace of mind.

If reading this has created more questions → Email Us!

Andrea MacDonald, CPA is the owner of Pro Tax & Accounting in Chesapeake, Virginia. For nearly two decades, she has been working with businesses on their bookkeeping, accounting and taxes. She also works with individuals and families on their tax returns. Andrea is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a qualified bookkeeper and tax professional. She is well-versed in tax law, which makes her an invaluable resource for any business.

Pink Pig piggybank with a jeweled crown on the Pro Tax & Accounting Pink Pig piggybank with a jeweled crown on the Pro Tax & Accounting website

At Pro Tax & Accounting, we keep you from breaking the bank!

Pro Tax & Accounting is your go-to resource for businesses bookkeeping, accounting services, payroll, QuickBooks Consulting, and tax services. President and owner, Andrea MacDonald, CPA, is a Certified Public Accountant. Andrea and her team have the education, knowledge, and experience and work with businesses throughout the Hampton Roads Virginia cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Newport News, and Hampton, north into Williamsburg, and throughout the mid-Atlantic region. And thanks to technology, Pro Tax & Accounting can work with clients anywhere in the world!

Call today and free up the time you need to run your business, and leave the bookkeeping and accounting up to the experts!