Mo Tariq

Mo Tariq is a Sales Tax Specialist at RelianTax Advisory, LLC. He has accumulated 17 years of experience in both the private and public sectors, helping taxpayers manage their sales and use taxes efficiently. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to minimizing the financial impact of sales and use taxation on his clients.

With a decade of experience at Grant Thornton LLP, one of the world's top accounting, tax, and advisory firms, as well as consulting work at Deloitte Tax and in-house experience at Prudential Financial's tax department, Mo has an extensive background working with a diverse range of businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, middle market enterprises, and emerging businesses. This experience has provided him with a unique perspective on the needs of various stakeholders.

Mo's expertise spans multiple industries and includes sales tax technical consulting, economic nexus and tax exposure studies, voluntary disclosure agreements, sales tax research, tax mapping, reverse sales tax audit and defense, compliance outsourcing, and controversy representation.

Mo is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of both the AICPA and the Institute for Professionals in Taxation. He resides in Northern New Jersey with his wife and two children and is involved in various charitable organizations dedicated to serving the local community, with a particular focus on youth personal and career development. In his leisure time, he enjoys outdoor cycling, traveling, and spending quality time with his family.

Client Service Achievements:

Voluntary Disclosure Agreements / Economic Nexus Studies / Tax Exposure Analysis:

• Determining taxability of products for a national beverage and nutritional products company that was only registered in 1 state. Performing a physical and economic nexus study as well as tax exposure analysis. Entering into VDAs in 35 state jurisdictions and, despite the lack of proper detailed sales data, achieved abatement of penalties and proper compliance moving forward.

• Media and Publishing company had 3 subsidiaries only registered in 1 state. Determined taxability of products and services in all states, conducted economic nexus study, and entered into VDA agreements. Achieved abatement of all penalties and proper compliance in all 46 taxing jurisdictions for all 3 subsidiaries.

Reverse Sales Tax Audit & Defense:

• Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare company had millions in use tax overpayments related to their manufacturing facilities. Filed use tax refunds in 3 states, recovering $6M in overpaid use tax.

• Global Consumer Goods and Household Products company had significant marketing research purchases with sales tax on the invoice. Identified an opportunity for a refund by allocating information services purchases by the state of use. Recovered $1M in sales tax despite the state creating challenging roadblocks during the appeals process.

• Industrial Manufacturing company accidentally charged resale customers sales tax in 5 states. Credits were provided to customers, but the company needed to recover sales tax remitted to the state. Recovered $500K in sales tax.

Exemption Certificate Management:

• Global Commodity Trader with $750M in sales tax exposure due to a lack of valid exemption certificates. Initiated a successful procurement campaign with their customers and covered more than 95% of their sales tax exposure.

Sales Tax Engine Improvement & Implementation:

• Global Immunology company was accruing incorrect use tax in the millions. Performed a study of their tax engine, identified troubled accounts, conducted tax research to determine the correct taxability of 1,000 accounts, and implemented corrections to stop future over-accruals.

Tax Research & Matrices:

• Agricultural and Livestock Monitoring company offered customers a complex package of solutions including hardware, prewritten software, SaaS, and a mix of services. Conducted intensive sales tax research in all states and built a tax matrix for the client. Recommended the best invoice approach going forward for their solutions to avoid unnecessary sales tax.

• Several Colleges and Universities offered various products and services to the public including entertainment events, sporting events, hardware, books, parking services, etc. Conducted sales tax research and built a tax matrix for each university.

• Pharmaceutical Advertising and Marketing firm had complex bundled and packaged solutions for their customers. Conducted intensive research in 30 states.

Compliance Outsourcing:

• National Pharmaceutical company with poor sales data and almost no sales tax workpapers required tax compliance outsourcing. Analyzed all sales information, created appropriate data files, built a sales revenue tax matrix and use tax review process, and filed monthly returns going forward.