[masa_inn]

I am piggy-backing on ajurew1’s thread.

I have been working for 3+ years for a mid-size (actually, one of the biggest in the industry, but the industry is in decline) company, dealing with different aspects of sales and use tax. My responsibilities include tax research to defend our position during the audits and to determine taxability of our products during a normal (as in non-audit) course of business; analyzing customers’ accounts when there is an issue with tax; issuing CR/DR to the accounts; reconciliation of our payments with audit reports. I interact a lot with the customers and people in other departments. All this time I’ve been a part-time employee. There is a very little chance I will be hired full time. It was great while I was at school, but I need a position with benefits.

I really like what I do; but more advanced positions require experience with filing sales tax returns, which I’ve never done.

I am in my mid-30s, have MACC from a no-name school.

Where can I apply myself with this kind of background? I had a good interview with the company who does sales tax audits for a huge company; but said huge company did not approve $ for a position I interviewed for. Reverse audits? Sales and use recovery audits? I know many public firms have SALT services, but I would prefer to stay in industry. I considered switching to general accounting, but it’s been difficult since I have very little experience with GL and none with month/year-end.

Any input would be much appreciated.

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

Roger, WTB, Ninja materials

[Anonymous]

I will talk to my tax accountant about this. She has a lot of experience, but I'm sure she would be really helpful with tips about what you should look into to get the experience you're looking for. I'll get back to you later today!

[Anonymous]

I will talk to my tax accountant about this. She has a lot of experience, but I'm sure she would be really helpful with tips about what you should look into to get the experience you're looking for. I'll get back to you later today!

[Anonymous]

OK. Our tax accountant said that you should look into two types of companies

1. A large retail organization (Target, etc) that has a big tax department. They are usually willing to train new employees because they have a whole team. Smaller companies with only 1 or 2 people in the tax department would prefer the sales filing experience from the start because they are probably replacing someone that either isn't there to help train or is on their way out and may not care how well you are trained.

2. A CPA Firm that specializes in filing sales tax returns for clients. Going for your CPA in combination with the experience you already have would be great for that.

She said you have a great basis for what you want to do and knowing tax law and dealing with the audits is the most important knowledge to have. Cranking out sales tax returns is good experience, but in many cases the beginners don't really understand it, they are just filling out paperwork. The knowledge you have is better than that. She said that most of her experience came from just doing the job.

I hope that was useful for you!

[Anonymous]

OK. Our tax accountant said that you should look into two types of companies

1. A large retail organization (Target, etc) that has a big tax department. They are usually willing to train new employees because they have a whole team. Smaller companies with only 1 or 2 people in the tax department would prefer the sales filing experience from the start because they are probably replacing someone that either isn't there to help train or is on their way out and may not care how well you are trained.

2. A CPA Firm that specializes in filing sales tax returns for clients. Going for your CPA in combination with the experience you already have would be great for that.

She said you have a great basis for what you want to do and knowing tax law and dealing with the audits is the most important knowledge to have. Cranking out sales tax returns is good experience, but in many cases the beginners don't really understand it, they are just filling out paperwork. The knowledge you have is better than that. She said that most of her experience came from just doing the job.

I hope that was useful for you!

[Anonymous]

Filling out the forms isn't that hard…at least not the ones that I have done, and I'd say I've done a half-dozen states or so, so I've seen some variety. CPAmommy had some good advice; only thing I'd add would be to ask if you could fill out a form if you were handed one right now, and if not, to advise that you learn how to. Look up the form on your state's website (and then some neighboring states too), and study it, learn it inside and out. Then when you're working with the various aspects of it that you're working with, try to think how what you're doing would translate to the form. Maybe see if your current employer would allow you to “job shadow” the people who fill out the forms, unpaid, when you're off (since you're part-time) – like stay through the afternoon when you just worked the morning or something like that to see how it's done, and watch and learn. If the big blockade that you're running into is lack of experience with the forms, I'd just try to find a way to learn them…and then when prospective employers ask if you filed the returns, you can say that you haven't filed them yourself but are intimately acquainted with the forms etc. etc.

Also as CPAmommy said, a stint in public – while it is not where you want to stay – could allow you to get the experience with the forms to enable you to switch back to private, and/or could fulfill the experience requirement to become a CPA so that you can add a credential to your knowledge (one without the other is pretty useless, but the two combined can be powerful).

[Anonymous]

Filling out the forms isn't that hard…at least not the ones that I have done, and I'd say I've done a half-dozen states or so, so I've seen some variety. CPAmommy had some good advice; only thing I'd add would be to ask if you could fill out a form if you were handed one right now, and if not, to advise that you learn how to. Look up the form on your state's website (and then some neighboring states too), and study it, learn it inside and out. Then when you're working with the various aspects of it that you're working with, try to think how what you're doing would translate to the form. Maybe see if your current employer would allow you to “job shadow” the people who fill out the forms, unpaid, when you're off (since you're part-time) – like stay through the afternoon when you just worked the morning or something like that to see how it's done, and watch and learn. If the big blockade that you're running into is lack of experience with the forms, I'd just try to find a way to learn them…and then when prospective employers ask if you filed the returns, you can say that you haven't filed them yourself but are intimately acquainted with the forms etc. etc.

Also as CPAmommy said, a stint in public – while it is not where you want to stay – could allow you to get the experience with the forms to enable you to switch back to private, and/or could fulfill the experience requirement to become a CPA so that you can add a credential to your knowledge (one without the other is pretty useless, but the two combined can be powerful).

[tifftiff1985]

Hi Masa,

I got my foot in the door at GE in their sales and use tax department a few years ago. I spent about a year and a half doing just about the same thing you said you do in your responsibilities. It was not for me in the slightest, but to each their own. Prior to that I had done work with sales tax, but it was a small part of my job. I went from having a big variety with my previous job (working with all tax types) to a job where I was only dealing with sales tax day in and day out. It just wasn't my cup of tea. Anyways, I agree with the first suggestion that you find a large company to work in their sales and use tax department. At GE, all actual return preparation was outsourced to a different company in our same building. We just dealt with the same types of things you do, just at a much larger scale. There were about 30 people in my office dealing only with sales tax for the various businesses. Your experience would be perfect in that environment and I'm sure in similarly sized companies.

FWIW, I also had a degree from a school that most would not know outside of our local area, although since last year's NCAA basketball tournament many more people have heard of it. I was only halfway through my Masters when I started and I had not passed any CPA exams either.

REG - 77 PASSED 8/2/13
BEC - 76 PASSED 9/11/13
FAR - 78 PASSED 11/25/13
AUD - 68, 73, 85 PASSED 6/6/14

[tifftiff1985]

Hi Masa,

I got my foot in the door at GE in their sales and use tax department a few years ago. I spent about a year and a half doing just about the same thing you said you do in your responsibilities. It was not for me in the slightest, but to each their own. Prior to that I had done work with sales tax, but it was a small part of my job. I went from having a big variety with my previous job (working with all tax types) to a job where I was only dealing with sales tax day in and day out. It just wasn't my cup of tea. Anyways, I agree with the first suggestion that you find a large company to work in their sales and use tax department. At GE, all actual return preparation was outsourced to a different company in our same building. We just dealt with the same types of things you do, just at a much larger scale. There were about 30 people in my office dealing only with sales tax for the various businesses. Your experience would be perfect in that environment and I'm sure in similarly sized companies.

FWIW, I also had a degree from a school that most would not know outside of our local area, although since last year's NCAA basketball tournament many more people have heard of it. I was only halfway through my Masters when I started and I had not passed any CPA exams either.

REG - 77 PASSED 8/2/13
BEC - 76 PASSED 9/11/13
FAR - 78 PASSED 11/25/13
AUD - 68, 73, 85 PASSED 6/6/14

[NicoleL]

I currently work in sales tax for an online retailer. From what you describe, you are already doing the hardest part of sales tax…audit defense, determining taxability, and research. Filling out and filing the actual forms is pretty easy…we actually have an intern file most of our actual forms. I think anyone hiring for sales tax shouldn't be turned off by the fact that you haven't actually prepared any forms and look at your experience as a huge plus. Also, there's usually a set of workpapers from the prior months' return, so as long you are able to follow that, you shouldn't have any problems.

FAR - 93 (YAY!!!!)
REG - 93 (Double YAY!)
BEC - 87 (Whew!)
AUD - 96 (DONE!!!!!)

[NicoleL]

I currently work in sales tax for an online retailer. From what you describe, you are already doing the hardest part of sales tax…audit defense, determining taxability, and research. Filling out and filing the actual forms is pretty easy…we actually have an intern file most of our actual forms. I think anyone hiring for sales tax shouldn't be turned off by the fact that you haven't actually prepared any forms and look at your experience as a huge plus. Also, there's usually a set of workpapers from the prior months' return, so as long you are able to follow that, you shouldn't have any problems.

FAR - 93 (YAY!!!!)
REG - 93 (Double YAY!)
BEC - 87 (Whew!)
AUD - 96 (DONE!!!!!)

[masa_inn]

Hi everybody, sorry I could not check in earlier.

Thank you for the excellent suggestions. I have already applied for 2 positions I would have thought were too “advanced” for me, if it was not for this thread.

Love another71, so many people ready to help.

Thank you again!

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

Roger, WTB, Ninja materials

[masa_inn]

Hi everybody, sorry I could not check in earlier.

Thank you for the excellent suggestions. I have already applied for 2 positions I would have thought were too “advanced” for me, if it was not for this thread.

Love another71, so many people ready to help.

Thank you again!

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

Roger, WTB, Ninja materials

[Author]

Replies