Tax practice management software is a staple for most accounting and tax firms. But there is no multi-use tax solution on the market that is designed to deal with the particulars of property taxes, as you’ll learn more about below.

If your business has locations in multiple cities or states, you could benefit from tax preparation outsourcing—having a third party or software solution handle one or more areas of your property tax cycle. Outsourcing is an appropriate solution for teams that:

Whether you’re new to property taxes in general or have acquired property in an unfamiliar location, or you have a few too many returns to file for the number of hands available, you’re here because one thing is clear: You need help with your company’s property taxes. The question is, what kind of help do you need—property tax consulting or a software management tool?

The telecommunications industry is fast-changing. Technology advancements—including the still-developing Internet of Things and 5G—are seemingly constant, presenting new opportunities and challenges with regard to doing business. Oftentimes, the introduction of new technology also impacts tax policy, and by extension, your tax strategies as they relate to sales and use, income, and property tax.

Companies are known to have multiple sets of books when it comes to depreciation, and it’s not only legal but required to meet all of your tax and accounting compliance requirements. The first two sets of books companies are required to keep are for income tax purposes (IRS) and accounting depreciation (financial accounting). In property tax we primarily deal with accounting depreciation and what is known as appraisal depreciation.

Without a doubt, all tax departments—income, sales and use, and property tax—make a unique contribution to a company’s bottom line. But as a former director of property tax at a large corporation, I can also attest to the fact that all corporate tax functions are interrelated. In fact, I’d argue that joint strategizing between all tax departments can actually have a greater impact on profitability than any one single tax department can make on its own.