Bainbridge Island, WA — January 28, 2009 —Sales, use, and other transaction tax issues pose a large, complex challenge to businesses of all sizes. While rules, rates, boundaries, and other regulations are constantly in flux and subject to interpretation, there is no single source for information, thoughts, updates, and commentary on these issues. Sales Tax Buzz is a new weblog written by Althea Azeff, who brings over 15 years of professional communications experience, including a dozen years of tax law analysis and commentary, to this role.
While the new site is funded by Avalara (www.avalara.com), the leading provider of Web-service based sales tax automation solutions for businesses and retailers of all sizes, SalesTaxBuzz.org is an independent site that welcomes input and commentary from all sources. Azeff is Avalara’s marketing communications director, and the blog has been creating “buzz” even before its official launch.
“We wanted to create an online space in which people could freely discuss their interests, concerns, ideas, and even their frustrations on all things transaction tax,” said Scott McFarlane, co-founder, president, and chief executive officer, Avalara. “When Althea joined us in 2008, we knew we had found that independent voice that would have the resolve to challenge tax authorities when necessary, not feel compelled to push our products, and lend an informative tone to the complex issues surrounding transaction tax collections, compliance, audit, and related matters.”
For a sampling of her independent blog voice, please refer to the December 12th “You Are What You Eat . . . and What You Wear” post, in which she celebrates shoes and sugar cane while contemplating New York’s proposed “fat tax.”
About Althea Azeff:
Althea Azeff earned a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. She is also a certified conflict mediator. Previous professional experience includes serving as Editor of Tax Notes International for Tax Analysts; Editor for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) for CPA Client Tax Letter, CPA Client Bulletin, and Planner (for CPA financial planners); as well as holding senior level corporate roles at New York Life Insurance Co. and MetLife. She has also provided content and counsel for law firms, accounting practices, hedge funds, nonprofits, educational organizations, and others.
About Avalara:
Avalara is transforming the sales and use tax compliance process for businesses of all sizes by delivering advanced technology solutions that provide the fastest, easiest, most accurate, and affordable way for companies to address their statutory tax requirements.Chosen by nearly 10,000 businesses throughout the U.S., Canada, and abroad, and a trusted provider of over 100 million sales tax calculations annually, Avalara is the recognized leader in web-based sales tax services and solutions. Avalara files more than 240,000 sales tax returns and remits over $10 billion in sales tax filings per year.
Based on Bainbridge Island near Seattle, WA, Avalara’s products, services, and expertise mirror the outsourced payroll model employed by millions of businesses, eliminating non-revenue generating functions, saving time and valuable accounting resources, and reducing the risks associated with miscalculation, audits, and penalties. Avalara services connect seamlessly with most major accounting and ERP applications, as well as 85 available integrations which are recommended by more than 2,000 software resellers and CPAs.
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