Whose Project is this?
Implementation of a software application to calculate and manage sales & use tax certainly requires support of an organization’s technical group. This is particularly true of the tasks to integrate with the ERP, order entry, and procurement systems. Nevertheless, there should be requirements at each step in the process based on tax policy. The planning. The requirements definition and the testing phases all need the involvement and the guidance of the tax department.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. IT, and at time the software vendor, can confuse a tax professional with their technical focus. It can be difficult for technical staff to describe the process steps in terms that relate to a tax professional’s interests and concerns. It can also be difficult for the tax professional to craft questions that IT can relate to.
Often implementation of the tax engine correlates with an installation or upgrade to the ERP or host system. Typically, that project has tight timelines and budget that may not have considered any tax input at the initial planning stage, but that is exactly when the Tax Department needs to insert themselves. Being truly involved in the process can require support from an independent SME to evaluate alternatives for indirect tax calculation & management and the management of the implementation process.