Video Library

Learn to Prepare and File Your Sales Tax Returns

Video Library

When it Comes to Sales Tax Filings, It Pays to Double Check.

States vary widely in terms of sales tax reporting complexity and how much detail is needed  with the breakdown of sales tax data. Understanding the specifics for each state where you have a filing obligation can help you create an effective plan for organizing the required data and confidently meeting your filing deadlines. 

Sales taxes are the second-largest source of revenue in most states after property taxes. Since South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. enabled states to collect more sales and use tax, they’re subjecting sales tax collections to greater levels of scrutiny. As you grow and expand into new territories, that scrutiny will be even more intense from states you haven’t worked in before.

To help you check the boxes on completing accurate state returns, the Sovos regulatory and managed services teams have put together quick videos to show requirements on the most popular states’ return, and demonstrate step-by-step instructions for filing your forms. 

In each video, you will find:

  • Things to know before you file, including accepted filing methods, specific forms/schedules and return due dates
  • An overview of what data to report on each line of the sales tax return
  • Step-by-step instructions for e-filing your returns through the department of revenue’s online portal

Get the Videos

Access the recordings for states listed below by filling out the form.

  1. Arizona
  2. California
  3. Connecticut
  4. Illinois
  5. Maine
  6. New Jersey
  7. New York
  8. North Carolina
  9. Ohio
  10. Pennsylvania
  11. Tennessee
  12. Virginia

As discussed in our second annual Sales and Use Tax Annual Report, tax authorities will be watching. Many are implementing new tax regulations and carefully examining compliance. Make sure these regulators don’t find anything amiss with your sales and use tax filings as you manage the mounting complexity of adhering to thousands of ever changing regulations. 

For example, there were more than 14,000 bills being considered at the end of 2020. All of which could impact sales tax compliance requirements. There were only 7,000 bills being considered by that same time in 2019. 

We understand that properly executing sales tax filings to ensure compliance with all regulations and obligations is a significant undertaking. Mistakes can lead to audits or penalties, increasing the pressure to get it done right the first time, every time. Furthermore, adding other filing related tasks, such as prepayments or industry-specific schedules, into your monthly process can increase the time spent on sales tax compliance. This can quickly become unmanageable if there aren’t enough personnel assigned to compliance tasks.

There can be similarities between requirements from one state to the next, but there are key differences, such as filing deadlines and state-specific forms. If you have been filing in California, for example, and recently expanded sales into New York, you must ensure that you know the requirements for each state. 

Watching these videos can help you understand the state-specific requirements you need to follow to remain compliant with sales tax requirements.

Looking to improve your filing process efficiency or outsource your returns completely?

Talk to a Sovos expert about filing solutions and services.
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