Boll & Branch does what’s right with Avalara
Results
Improved processes
Increased compliance
Summary
Results
- Improved processes
- Increased compliance
Tax challenges
- Compliance risk
- Company growth
- Tax complexity
Products used
Avalara AvaTax
Dynamically delivers sales and use tax calculations, based on the latest rules and rates in our tax engine, to a shopping cart or invoicing system at the time of purchase.
Avalara Returns
Automatically gathers data from AvaTax to prepare and file sales and use tax returns and remit payments across multiple jurisdictions every filing cycle.
Avalara State Sales Tax Registration
Helps obtain most non-regulated licenses, permits, and registrations across the U.S., including state, county, and local licenses.
Benefits
- Simplified tax calculation and filing
- Eliminated significant effort
- Peace of mind with compliance
Industry type
Retail and ecommerce
Tame the complexity of sales tax compliance in an omnichannel sales environment.
Company overview
Customer
Boll & Branch
Industry
Retail and ecommerce
Tax type
Sales and use
Boll & Branch was founded in 2014 with a simple mission: to produce sheets that feel good, inside and out. The business vision has evolved since then, adding clothing and accessories to their line, but the spirit in which the company was founded remains.
The entire operation, from sourcing organic materials and dyes to delivering heirloom-quality design, is geared toward quality, sustainability, authenticity, and fair-trade practices. Boll & Branch operates with the mantra: We don’t do what’s easy. We do what’s right.
Tax challenges
The company’s website was launched in February 2014. At the time, they were headquartered in New Jersey with a warehouse in California. “Filing in just two states was a very painful process, especially for California, which is probably the most complicated state,” Robin Hecht, the company controller, remembers.
The process involved generating reports from the credit card platform then manually moving that data into filing forms for each state. “I dreaded every time I had to do one of those returns,” says Robin.
“Filing in just two states was a very painful process, especially for California, which is probably the most complicated state.”
—Robin Hecht
Controller
In 2018, the United States Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. opened the door for additional tax liability for Boll & Branch. The first sales tax notice the company received as a result of the Wayfair decision came from the state of Washington. “That was the beginning of the avalanche,” says Robin.
After consulting with her outside accounting firm, Robin engaged them to begin a nexus study while sales tax notices began flooding in from other states. Robin had been registering online with each state as the first trickle of notices arrived and soon found her small department overwhelmed.
Why Avalara?
In 2016, Boll & Branch moved its credit card platform to Shopify. The platform came with Avalara to handle sales tax calculations as an embedded function, presenting customers with a single interface and a single bill. Robin chose the add-on option to have Avalara file the company’s returns.
After learning Avalara can handle state registrations, Robin opted to use that service as well.
Tax challenges
- Compliance risk
- Company growth
- Tax complexity
Products used
Avalara AvaTax
Dynamically delivers sales and use tax calculations, based on the latest rules and rates in our tax engine, to a shopping cart or invoicing system at the time of purchase.
Avalara Returns
Automatically gathers data from AvaTax to prepare and file sales and use tax returns and remit payments across multiple jurisdictions every filing cycle.
Avalara State Sales Tax Registration
Helps obtain most non-regulated licenses, permits, and registrations across the U.S., including state, county, and local licenses.
Benefits
- Simplified tax calculation and filing
- Eliminated significant effort
- Peace of mind with compliance
Industry type
Retail and ecommerce
Tame the complexity of sales tax compliance in an omnichannel sales environment.
“I don’t lose sleep worrying about late or misfiled taxes and penalties, and Avalara keeps us up to date as requirements change.”
—Robin Hecht
Controller
“I don’t lose sleep worrying about late or misfiled taxes and penalties, and Avalara keeps us up to date as requirements change.”
—Robin Hecht
Controller
Results
Automating sales tax compliance has given Robin peace of mind. “I don’t lose sleep worrying about late or misfiled taxes and penalties,” she says. “And Avalara keeps us up to date as requirements change.”
Robin also appreciates the savings of time and labor. “I can’t imagine how many hours it would take a person to sort out all of the applicable taxes for so many cities, counties, and states.”
“We asked our accounting firm to register us in the state of California. When we checked, the majority of the registrations were already done by Avalara business licensing and Avalara charged half the price of what our accounting firm charged.”
