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October 2014 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com 25 5 Networking Tips for State and Local Tax ( SALT ) Practitioners By Gail Perry, CPA, Editor-in-Chief CPA Practice Advisor You don't have to turn the client away. You know taxes in general and know how your own state and local ta xes work. You already k now the questions to ask and the t y pes of forms you'll likely need to help the client fle. If you've got lots of time on your hands, you can take a deep dive into the tax laws of the new state. Or, you can do what many people do a nd seek help f rom you r col- leagues in other states. Here are some tips for geting answers to your tax questions when you're dealing with a new taxing jurisdiction. Turn To the People You Know Head over to LinkedIn and search a m o n g y o u r c o n n e c t i o n s f o r someone in the new state. Here's how to do a state search: • Enter the state name in the Search feld at the top of the page and click the Search buton (the blue magnifying glass), or just press Enter. • Click the Advanced option. At the top of the window that appears, it should say "Advanced People Search." If something else appears, click People on the lef side of the screen. • Check the 1st Connection box. • Scroll down to the botom of the search window and click the "Search" buton. A ll of your first degree connec- tions associated with that state will appear. Note that some of the search resu lts w i l l be people who a ren't necessarily in that state now but who have listed that state somewhere in their profle. Post a Question in a LinkedIn Group Stay on LinkedIn and search for a group that relates to the state or locale where your client is doing business. For example, if I do a LinkedIn search for Missouri, I fnd there is a Missouri State & Local Taxes group. You can browse the commentary in a group like this or post a question asking for information. ( www.linkedin.com/in/ cpapracticeadvisor ) Find a Q&A; Forum Many states have Q& A forums of their own where you can post ques- tions. Search for the name of the state fol lowed by " Ta x Q& A" or " Ta x Forum" to fnd areas online where users can ask questions and make connections. In groups of this sort or the groups on LinkedIn, you can ask for contact information and connect w ith an expert outside of the group seting. Search for a Specialist Most if not all states have accounting frms that specialize in state and local taxes. A search for a state and local tax expert within your state is likely to produce one or more firms that provide services that you might fnd useful. State and local tax accountants are not unfamiliar with the concept of providing services to other accoun- t a nt s . T he y k no w t he y p o s s e s s ex pertise in specialized areas and typically they are willing to provide services without your having to fear they w i l l poach your cl ients. You would work w ith the accountants directly on behalf of your client and you would still maintain your profes- sional relationship with your client throughout the project. You can use social media forums such as Twiter to search as well. Try searching for the state and the word ta x and see who comes up in your search. Depending on the state, it's quite possible you'll fnd an expert in state and local taxes who is willing to work with you to answer questions or even work on projects. Contact State CPA Societies and Other Professional Organizations Ma ny state CPA societ ies have a "Find a CPA" page on their website where you can seek out assistance within that state. You can also contact the CPA Society directly and ask for a referral. In addition to the state CPA soci- eties, there are organizations like the National Association of Tax Profes- sionals, the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, and others, that you can contact regarding referrals or posting questions. October SALT Checklist Open items – help clients track down and account for outstanding overpayments/refunds Payments – help clients streamline SALT payments by making sure they are taking advantage of on- line payment methods Discuss liability for use taxes with affected cli- ents (see related article) Review out-of-state tax status of your SALT cli- ents and set up calls or send emails to determine if there have been recent changes Connect with SALT experts in other states if you have any clients that have expanded their business to new locales (see related article) Consider making yourself available as an expert on taxes in your own state through social media, your state CPA society, or participation in online state tax forums and groups A Year in the Life of a SALT Accountant is sponsored by Avalara 5 Networking October SALT Checklist A Year in the Life of a SALT Accountant is sponsored by Avalara Y ou probably know the income, sales, and use tax rules in your own state and local jurisdic- tions w ithout hav ing to do much research. But what if a new client walks in the door and presents you with a tax situation in a state where you have not practiced before?