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What is a SaaS Sales Tax Automation Platform?

Autor: Oleksandra Butenko, Copywriter

Revisado por: George Ploaie, Diretor de Operações (COO)

What is a SaaS Sales Tax Automation Platform

What is a SaaS Sales Tax Automation Platform?

Uma solução de automação fiscal para SaaS é um tipo de plataforma que auxilia as empresas no cálculo e declaração de impostos sobre transações relacionadas a vendas de Software e produtos digitais. A plataforma pode fazer coisas como cálculo de impostos no checkout, monitoramento da exposição ao registro, preparação de relatórios ou auxílio no preenchimento de declarações fiscais. Os processos automáticos podem mudar a forma como uma empresa SaaS lida com as regras de tributação, alíquotas e as necessidades de conformidade em diferentes estados ou países.

What tax types can SaaS Tax Automation handle?

A​‍​‌‍​‍‌ tax automation system is capable of managing various types of taxes, including imposto sobre vendas in the United States as well as Value Added Tax (VAT) e Goods and Services Tax (GST). Each USA state has its own way of taxing SaaS. Some may impose taxes on certain software or data-processing services and have exemptions or rules depending on the product or service description (e.g., “electrical/software”, etc.). For SaaS sellers outside of the USA, there may be certain VAT or GST obligations that they have to address.

 

How do Tax Automation tools differ from a Merchant of Record?

The difference between tax tools is primarily which parts of the compliance process they cover. A Merchant of Record uses a different legal and commercial model because it becomes the seller or reseller of record for the end-customer transaction.

Abordagem Typical role
Tax engine Calculates​‍​‌‍​‍‌ the transaction tax based on several parameters like the product, the location of the customers, etc., and as per the rules provided
Filing service Prepares and submits tax returns using transaction data
Merchant of Record In certain contractual arrangements, the parties involved can act as the seller or reseller of record and thereby assume the tax-related responsibilities related to the transaction

What is the economic nexus and why does it matter for SaaS Tax?

In sales tax in the U.S., nexus refers to the business-state relationship through which registration, collection, and remitting tax are mandatory. In South Dakota v Wayfair, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2018, physical presence was removed as a precondition, so a state can require remote sellers to collect sales tax based on their sales into the state alone. A state can create and define economic nexus only by sellers’ activities within the state boundaries.

What information does Tax Automation use?

A taxation platform combines transaction data with regras fiscais locais in the background. The kind of data entered will vary with the system in place:
• Customer location
• Type of goods or services
• Purchase amount
• Customer category
• Details about tax exemptions
• Status (registered/unregistered)
• Local regulations to be applied

Categorizing products is key for SaaS. Tax treatments vary for software, digital services, subscriptions, and other goods or services delivered electronically.

How should a SaaS business evaluate its Tax Automation needs?

Uma empresa deve verificar a geografia dos seus clientes e os impostos sobre os seus produtos. Nos EUA, isso inclui verificar se o produto é tributável e se também tem exposição ao nexo econômico. Eles podem usar uma ferramenta de cálculo de impostos para pagamentos no checkout ou um pacote completo com declaração de impostos, suporte de registro, relatórios e monitoramento. Verifique também se a ferramenta atualiza regularmente as regras de tributação e os dados das alíquotas, quais jurisdições ela suporta e se diferencia entre diferentes tipos de clientes e produtos.

Conclusão

The SaaS automated taxation system is essentially a sales tax, VAT, and GST manager across multiple jurisdictions. It also makes sense to separate tax automation from the Merchant of Record model, where responsibility for the end-customer transaction is under the agreement under which your company ‍‌‍‍‌operates.

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