thinQ relays a clear signal for tax compliance

Aaron relies on Avalara to keep him compliant amid all the tax complexity and ever-changing rates particular to telecommunications. “I don’t want to be a tax expert. I just want it to be off my plate,” he says. “Who really wants to know how all this works? You just want to be compliant and do it the right way.”

In 2017, thinQ was the subject of a three-year audit by the State of New York. The auditor spent countless hours over the course of an entire year scrutinizing thinQ’s records. At stake was an alleged underpayment of $150,000. “You’re presumed to be guilty until you prove that you did it correctly,” says Aaron. “I had the data to prove my innocence and the result was significantly less. In the end, thanks to the historical data provided by Avalara, the delta was actually around $1,700.”

Aside from his confidence in the software, Aaron also recognized Avalara’s unique value of coupling a powerful, automated platform with deep and dedicated support expertise. “The software doesn’t magically understand your business,” he explains. “You must have the right kind of people who can help you make the right choices. Without those types of people, the software doesn’t make a difference.”

Without AvaTax for Communications, Aaron reckons he would have to hire a team dedicated to tax compliance. “I’m pretty sure a staff of three to five people could probably do it,” he says. “And I’d have to also have someone with industry knowledge to manage them.”