If 2025 felt busy for tax and compliance teams, 2026 is shaping up to be even more complex.

In this episode of Beyond Death & Taxes, Matt and Clay kick off the new year with highlights from 10th annual Avalara Tax Changes webinar — the flagship event tax professionals rely on to understand what’s coming next. Featuring insights from industry experts Gail Cole, Scott Peterson, Argi O’Leary, and Craig Reed, the conversation breaks down the most impactful tax developments from 2025 and what finance teams should be preparing for in 2026.

From expanding sales tax bases and new digital services taxes to shifting nexus rules, retail delivery fees, and aggressive enforcement trends, this episode explores how states are responding to economic pressure and revenue needs. The discussion also dives into the rapidly evolving world of trade and tariffs, including the end of de minimis, rising global tariffs, and why cross-border compliance now affects far more businesses than ever before.

Key Takeaways

• Why 2026 is poised to bring major tax changes as states face budget pressure and shifting federal policies.
• How and why states are expanding their tax base, especially into digital services and B2B transactions.
• What retail delivery fees signal about new revenue strategies — and why they remain controversial.
• How nexus rules continue to evolve, including changes to transaction thresholds and physical presence standards.
• Why trade and tariff compliance now affects more businesses, driven by rising tariffs and the end of de minimis.
• What finance teams should focus on next to reduce risk amid growing enforcement and reporting complexity.

Related Links

1. Read the full Avalara Tax Changes 2026 report
2. Explore more articles, reports, and up-to-date insights on all things compliance Avalara Resource Center
   
   

AI is reshaping finance faster than most teams can keep up, and tax compliance is one of the first places it’s making a real impact.

In this episode of Beyond Death & Taxes, Matt and Clay explore the rapidly evolving role of AI in finance, featuring insights from Avalara’s popular webinar, Reinventing Tax Compliance: The AI Boom and How to Put It to Work. They walk through findings from a global study of finance leaders, revealing how teams are adopting AI, where they’re still hesitant, and which compliance tasks are most primed for automation.

From the rise of e-invoicing mandates to AI-powered research, reporting, and “agentic” workflows, this episode breaks down what’s actually happening inside modern finance departments and what’s coming next. You’ll also hear how Avalara is integrating AI directly into tax research, reporting dashboards, ERPs, and even email tools to reduce risk, speed up decision-making, and cut manual work.

And before diving in, the hosts pay their respects in the Compliance Graveyard to one of the oldest inefficiencies in the book: manual data entry — and why it’s finally time to lay it to rest.

Key Takeaways

• How AI adoption is accelerating across finance and what’s driving the momentum.
• Why global e-invoicing mandates are reshaping compliance, and what teams need to prepare for now.
• Where manual processes create the biggest risks and how AI can close those gaps.
• What “agentic AI” really means and why it’s poised to change tax workflows entirely.
• Why human oversight remains essential — especially when it comes to privacy, accuracy, and trust.

Whether you’re experimenting with AI or still figuring out where it fits, this conversation offers a grounded look at how automation is reshaping compliance today and where it’s headed next.

Related Links

1. Watch the full webinar: Reinventing Tax Compliance — The AI Boom and How to Put It to Work.
2. Explore more articles, reports, and insights on how AI is reshaping tax workflows in the Avalara Resource Center

Some states make sales tax filing straightforward — and then there are the ones that keep even seasoned pros on their toes.

In this episode of Beyond Death & Taxes, Matt and Clay dig into one of Avalara’s most downloaded webinars: the 10 trickiest states for sales tax returns. From inconsistent deadlines to confusing location reporting and “alphabet soup” schedules, they walk through the quirks and complexities that make filing in certain states uniquely challenging.

You’ll hear expert insights from Avalara’s tax pros as they break down what makes states like California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Louisiana, Texas, and more so difficult — and what finance teams should be watching out for as rules, thresholds, and interpretations continue to shift.

And before diving in, the hosts pay their respects in the Compliance Graveyard to one of the most persistent myths in the industry: the idea that all states handle sales tax the same way. (Spoiler: they do not.)

Key Takeaways

• States vary widely: Sales tax rules, deadlines, and formats differ dramatically from state to state.
• Nexus keeps evolving: Physical, economic, and marketplace nexus rules continue to shift — and vary by jurisdiction.
• Some states are especially tough: Places like California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Louisiana come with added complexity.
• Accurate data matters: Clean, consistent tax data is essential for timely and accurate returns.
• Deadlines can get messy: Filing frequencies and prepayment requirements change as you hit new thresholds.

Whether you file in two states or twenty, this episode will help you better understand the pitfalls, patterns, and prep work needed to stay compliant across the country.

The foundation of compliance starts here!

In this episode of Beyond Death & Taxes, Matt and Clay dust off the fundamentals of compliance with highlights from Avalara’s popular “Sales Tax 101” webinar. They uncover why sales tax matters, how nexus really works, and the five essential steps every finance team should follow to stay compliant.

Along the way, we make a pitstop in the Compliance Graveyard, burying one of compliance’s longest-lived myths: the assumption that sales tax is always somebody else’s problem.

Key Takeaways

• The old “someone else handles sales tax” mindset is officially dead.
• Why sales tax is critical to state budgets — and why it should matter to you.
• The three basics of taxability (Where, Who & What) and how they drive your obligations.
• The five core steps to staying compliant — from registering to remitting.
• Common nexus triggers that could create unexpected tax liabilities for your business.

Even the “basics” of sales tax can trip up the best finance teams. Learn how to spot the risks and streamline compliance before it becomes a headache.

Tax rules are shifting fast in 2025 — are you and your finance team keeping up?

In the debut episode of Beyond Death & Taxes, hosts Matt and Clay kick things off with highlights from Avalara’s 2025 Midyear Tax Changes update. From shifting nexus thresholds to the latest digital compliance rules, they walk through the most important legislative changes shaping tax and finance this year. Along the way, they revisit the now-buried “nexus guessing game” and share practical insights to help finance teams stay ahead of evolving state policies.

Whether you missed the live webinar or just need a quick refresher, this episode packs in everything you and your team need to know to stay compliant — without the guesswork.

Tune in to learn:

• Why the old “nexus guessing game” belongs in the compliance graveyard — and how modern tools make it obsolete.
• The most significant midyear legislative updates across states including Maryland, Washington, and Louisiana.
• How states are expanding their tax bases into digital goods, advertising, and professional services.
• What shifting economic nexus thresholds mean for remote sellers and marketplace facilitators.
• Why AI and new audit tools could change how states enforce compliance going forward.

Stay sharp on the tax changes that matter most — and get the insights you need to keep your business compliant in 2025 and beyond.

Subscribe to Beyond Death & Taxes today, and be ready for whatever compliance throws your way.