The posting
Job Description: Short-Term Tax Compliance Auditor
(Customer Resale Certificates)
Position Summary
We are seeking a detail oriented, short-term Tax Compliance Auditor to support our sales tax exemption compliance efforts. This role is responsible for auditing vendor and customer tax records, verifying the validity of resale/exemption certificates, confirming taxpayer exemption status through state resources, and communicating directly with customers regarding certificate deficiencies. This is a project-based role expected to last approximately 8 weeks, with the possibility of extension based on business needs.
Key Responsibilities
- Retrieve resale/exemption certificates for assigned accounts from Avalara (CertCapture or equivalent exemption certificate management system).
- Review each certificate to ensure it meets the issuing state's specific requirements (correct form type, complete signatures, valid dates, correct taxpayer ID/EIN, accurate business description, and proper state-specific fields).
- Verify that certificates are fully and correctly completed; identify and document any missing, incomplete, expired, or non-compliant information.
- Look up and validate the customer's taxpayer ID/sales tax permit number on the applicable state Department of Revenue (or equivalent) website to confirm the account remains active and tax-exempt.
- Identify accounts where the certificate is invalid, expired, incomplete, or the taxpayer ID no longer shows as exempt/active.
- Utilize approved, standardized email templates to notify customers of certificate deficiencies and explain that their account will be (or has been) moved to taxable status until a valid, updated resale certificate is received.
- Contact customers by phone as a secondary or escalated outreach method when email communication does not result in a timely response, or when phone contact is otherwise required to resolve the issue.
- Maintain a professional, courteous, and clear tone in all customer communications (phone and email), accurately explaining the reason for the tax status change and the steps needed to resolve it.
- Update the ERP system with detailed, timestamped notes for every account reviewed, including: certificate status, verification results, taxpayer ID lookup results, communication attempts (phone/email), and the date/reason the account's tax status was changed (exempt to taxable).
- Track and organize all reviewed accounts to ensure no duplication of outreach and to provide status updates/reporting to management as needed.
- Escalate unresolved or complex certificate issues to the Account Services Manager as appropriate.
- Maintain confidentiality and accuracy of all customer and vendor tax records handled during the audit process.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to identify discrepancies or incomplete documentation.
- Comfortable navigating state government websites to verify taxpayer/permit information.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable making outbound customer calls.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a high volume of accounts within a set timeframe.
- Ability to work independently while following established templates, scripts, and escalation procedures.
- Employment Type: Short-Term / Temporary
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Schedule: Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM
- Location: Remote
- Reports To: Account Services Manager
- Access to Avalara certificate management system.
- Standardized email templates for customer notifications regarding certificate deficiencies.
- Access to company ERP system for account notes and tax status updates.
- List of state Department of Revenue/taxation websites for taxpayer ID verification.
- Training on internal audit checklist and escalation procedures.
