(More Information about SST)

Avalara, Certified for Streamlined Sales Tax Project, Releases SST-Certified Editions of Sage Software’s ERP Packages

Nashville, Tennessee – May 8, 2006:  Avalara today announced the release of SST-certified editions of its sales tax automation solution, AvaTax™, for Sage MAS 90 ERP, Sage MAS 200 ERP, Sage MAS 500 ERP and Sage Accpac ERP.   Businesses in the 19 participating states that collect sales tax under the rules of Streamlined Sales Tax will benefit from using a Certified Service Provider in a number of ways, which may include audit relief, liability protection, amnesty, and reduced-cost -or free - administration.  Avalara is one of only three companies that have been certified by the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. 

“It is excellent news for businesses looking to take advantage of the SST program that Avalara is among the Certified Service Providers,” explained CPA technology educator and columnist, Randy Johnston.   “Avalara has made a significant mark in accounting technology over recent years with its easy-to-use, integrated solutions for small and medium businesses.”

Under SST, businesses will be able to outsource sales tax compliance functions to Avalara, which will determine and calculate the tax, then report and remit taxes to the states on behalf of those businesses. This will all be done automatically, in real time, and completely behind the scenes – just as Avalara works now for its more than 2,600 licensed users.  As an incentive to participate, businesses that register to collect sales tax under SST rules and adopt Avalara’s automated sales tax calculation service will receive protection from audit, protection from liability for mistakes in calculation, may qualify for amnesty, and in many cases, the service will be free of charge to the company using AvaTax.  

Avalara is the only one of the three CSPs that focuses on small and medium (SMB) businesses.   
 “The unique way Avalara solves the sales tax compliance hassle is a perfect format-fit for the requirements of collection under Streamlined rules,” explained Rory Rawlings, Avalara’s Founder and Chief Tax Automation Officer.  “Our flagship product line, AvaTax™, links Avalara’s centrally-maintained, SST-certified sales tax engine to the user’s accounting package or e-commerce system, so there’s no change to the user’s existing work-flow.   In providing SST services to the SMB market, we will be making use of our extensive range of integrations with SMB accounting software packages.” 

“Having CSPs like Avalara coming online is a milestone for the Streamlined Sales Tax initiative, as CSPs offer crucial automation options to businesses registering to collect tax under Streamlined rules. ” commented SST Executive Director, Scott Peterson.  More information on provisions of SST to participating businesses can be found at http://www.streamlinedsalestax.org.

About AvaTax™
An SMB market-leading, Web-service-based sales tax solution, AvaTax instantly and accurately calculates sales tax for clients in any of the more than 8,000 taxing jurisdictions in North America; provides detailed, real-time reporting; and automatically generates pre-populated sales tax returns.  Currently, more than 2,600 licensed AvaTax users run an average of 5 sales tax calculation transactions through Avalara’s sales tax engine every second.
AvaTax comes integrated with SMB financial applications serving more businesses than any other solution on the market today, including Microsoft Dynamics™ GP, Microsoft Dynamics™ NAV, Intuit’s QuickBooks, Sage Software’s Sage MAS 90 ERP, Sage MAS 200 ERP, Sage MAS 500 ERP, Sage Accpac ERP and Epicor’s iScala.  Additionally, with AvaTax SDK™, developers can integrate Avalara’s sales tax Web service with any e-commerce, third party or custom-build solution with use of a comprehensive Software Developer’s Kit (SDK). 
About Avalara
Headquartered on Bainbridge Island near Seattle, Washington, Avalara is changing the sales tax landscape by delivering innovative and affordable solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. Avalara’s mission is to transform the sales tax compliance process by creating cost-effective, state-of-the-art solutions. Avalara does so through integrated, on-demand, Web-based services that provide transparent transactions, accurate tax compliance, painless administration and effortless reporting. 

For more information about Avalara, contact:

Ned Barnett, ned@barnettmarcom.com, 702-696-1200
Daryl Toor, dtoor@attentiongroup.com, 770-777-9489
Christina Opalka, christinao@avalara.com,  206.780.7035