Research Shows Tax Compliance Issues Hinder E-Commerce Growth

Rhea-AI Summary

Research by Vertex highlights the challenges and opportunities in indirect tax management for finance professionals in 2022. Over 75% of finance leaders express concerns about scalability hindered by indirect tax complexities. Notably, 68% prioritize frictionless commerce, as many organizations expand their transaction territories. However, over 50% face delays in VAT/sales tax calculations, primarily due to inefficient manual processes. A significant 47% lack adequate indirect tax capabilities to navigate evolving regulations. The study emphasizes the importance of automation in tax management for business growth.

Positive

• 68% of financial leaders prioritize frictionless commerce.
• 70% of respondents report an increase in transaction territories.
• More than half believe improved indirect tax management enables confident expansion.

Negative

• Over 50% face delays in VAT/sales tax calculations.
• 47% of respondents find their indirect tax capabilities inadequate for current regulations.

LONDON, July 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A fragile yet prosperous business economy has encouraged finance leaders to identify new opportunities for growth in 2022. Yet, according to research by Vertex, Inc. (NASDAQ:VERX) ("Vertex" or the "Company"), a global provider of tax technology solutions, over three-quarters of senior finance professionals are concerned scalability will be impeded by the complexities caused by indirect tax liability and financial process inefficiencies.

The research, which surveyed 730 financial decision makers working in businesses selling cross-border products and services, revealed that 68% of respondents consider frictionless commerce as a strategic priority this year. As a result, seven out of ten respondents report that the number of territories their organisation transacts with has increased exponentially over the past two years, with many taking advantage of e-Commerce to maximise growth.

However, with tax authorities across the globe changing rules and regulations in response to the rise in online sales as well as the adoption of new technologies, over half of the businesses are troubled by the delays caused by performing VAT/sales tax calculations and charging at the point of sale. This is closely followed by the risk of unsustainable manual indirect tax processes as the business expands.

This is not surprising, given the research shows that finance and tax teams are often using multiple systems to handle their indirect tax obligations, with many relying on native tools in their ERP system (51%) and/or manual processes and spreadsheets (41%). According to 47% of respondents, this is problematic as their indirect tax capabilities are not equipped to handle the requirements of an ever-evolving tax landscape.

Peter Boerhof, VAT director at Vertex, comments: “The acceleration of digitalisation in combination with the e-Commerce boom has created a perfect storm for businesses who are looking to expand into new markets.”

Survey respondents identify challenges registering their business for indirect tax in new territories, the capability to manage and charge taxes in the same technology platform and managing indirect tax on both physical and online sales in one basket.

Over half of the finance leaders surveyed believe improving indirect tax management will help their business expand with confidence and agree that automation of core financial processes will drive scalability.

“With so many complexities to navigate in today’s tax landscape, basic functionality within ERP systems is not enough for businesses to efficiently handle their indirect tax obligations now. The perspective shared by financial decision makers in this study express asserts the need to have the right technology to keep pace and maximise growth.”

Download the full research report here.

Copyright © 2022 Vertex, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein is intended for information purposes only, may change at any time in the future, and is not legal or tax advice. The product direction and potential roadmap information is not a guarantee, may not be incorporated into any contract, and is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality. This information should not be relied upon in making purchasing, legal, or tax decisions. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described for Vertex’s products remains at the sole discretion of Vertex, Inc. Any statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties described in Vertex’s filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Vertex cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which Vertex has no obligation to update.

About the research

The research was conducted by Sapio Research UK on behalf of Vertex. 730 financial decision makers (c-level, directors, and managers) working in businesses selling cross-border products and services online were interviewed, across the EMEA (420), North America (250), and South America (60). Respondents were identified from a pool of B2B and B2C businesses reporting an annual turnover between $20m and $400m (or £14m and £295m).

About Vertex
Vertex, Inc. is a leading global provider of indirect tax software and solutions. The company’s mission is to deliver the most trusted tax technology enabling global businesses to transact, comply and grow with confidence. Vertex provides solutions that can be tailored to specific industries for major lines of indirect tax, including sales and consumer use, value added and payroll. Headquartered in North America, and with offices in South America and Europe, Vertex employs over 1,300 professionals and serves companies across the globe.

For more information, visit www.vertexinc.com or follow on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media contact:
Rebecca Brown
Skout PR for Vertex, Inc.
rebecca.brown@skoutpr.com
07875529484

Company contact:
Marisa Norris
Vertex, Inc. 
mediainquiries@vertexinc.com
610.283.6284

Investor Relations contact:
Ankit Hira or Ed Yuen 
Solebury Trout for Vertex, Inc. 
ir@vertexinc.com
610.312.2890

FAQ

What does Vertex's recent research reveal about indirect tax challenges in 2022?

Vertex's research indicates that over 75% of finance leaders are concerned about scalability issues due to indirect tax complexities.

How has e-Commerce affected indirect tax management according to Vertex's findings?

The study shows that 70% of businesses have increased their transaction territories, highlighting the e-Commerce boom's impact.

What percentage of finance leaders see the need for automation in tax processes?

Over half of the surveyed finance leaders believe that automating tax processes is essential for managing indirect taxes efficiently.

What challenges do businesses face regarding VAT/sales tax calculations?

More than 50% of finance leaders report delays in VAT/sales tax calculations due to manual processes.

What do finance professionals say about their indirect tax capabilities?

47% of finance professionals believe their systems are not equipped to handle the evolving indirect tax landscape.