Issue
A large multistate provider in the construction and building materials industry needed a more efficient approach to sales and use tax compliance. The company used a decentralized process, requiring five to six internal accountants to each spend up to 40 hours per month on tax preparation, reconciliation, and filing.
That approach placed a significant burden on internal resources and limited the team’s capacity for higher-value work. Manual, spreadsheet-based processes increased the risk of errors, inconsistent method, and limited standardization across jurisdictions. As the business expanded, varying tax rates and requirements across states made compliance harder to scale and reduced visibility into filing status, accuracy, and timeliness.
Solution
CBIZ implemented its Automated Sales Tax Compliance Service, a technology-enabled managed solution that centralizes and standardizes the client’s indirect tax processes.
The service consolidated compliance activities into a single managed workflow, replacing fragmented manual efforts with consistent processes for data preparation, reconciliation, and filing. Automation tools and predefined workflows streamlined data handling, reduced manual manipulation, and established a repeatable, controlled process.
CBIZ shifted most compliance responsibilities from the client’s internal team to a managed services model, limiting the client’s role to oversight and coordination. Standardized controls and validation checks improved accuracy, ensured timely filings, and strengthened compliance with complex jurisdictional requirements.
Outcome
With the new model, the client reduced internal accounting involvement from five to six contributors to one resource requiring only a few hours per month. This resulted in an estimated 85% to 95% reduction in compliance time and allowed the company to assign skilled employees to more strategic work.
What made it work:
Reduced internal burden: The managed services model significantly decreased the time accounting teams spent on compliance activities.
Improved accuracy and consistency: Standardized processes and validation checks minimized manual errors and improved filing quality.
Greater compliance visibility: Centralized tracking provided clearer insight into filing status, accuracy, and audit readiness.
Scalable support for growth: The solution established a compliance model that supports ongoing expansion without increasing internal resources.
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“CBIZ” is the brand name under which CBIZ CPAs P.C. and CBIZ, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including CBIZ Advisors, LLC, provide professional services. CBIZ CPAs P.C. and CBIZ, Inc. (and its subsidiaries) practice as an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations, and professional standards. CBIZ CPAs P.C. is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. CBIZ, Inc. and its subsidiary entities provide tax, advisory, and consulting services to their clients. CBIZ, Inc. and its subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms and, therefore, cannot provide attest services.
