Session Sneak Peek: Brent Watson, CPA - Oklahoma Society of CPAs

With thirty-two years of experience in sales tax, property tax, and tax incentive programs, Brent Watson, CPA, of SALTA, PLLC, is an Avalara sales tax software implementation partner. He launched and led the non-income tax group at Tyson Foods for ten years and has fifteen years of consulting experience across various industries, including manufacturing, oil and gas, construction, and multi-state retailing.

Brent frequently speaks at professional organizations and has authored numerous articles for OSCPA Focus and COPAS Accounts magazines. He is a member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Tulsa Chapter of the Oklahoma Society.

OSCPA: What key topics will you cover and why is it important for our members?
Watson: We will discuss changes in OK law, audit trends, and common issues that arise in Oklahoma, as well as challenges faced by multi-state sellers and contractors.

OSCPA: What's a common misconception about taxes that you'll address during your session?
Watson: Business owners and CPAs are often unaware of issues that lead to damaging, or even destructive, audit assessments. Typically, CPAs focus on income tax or audits and are blissfully unaware of the important impact that sales tax has on businesses.

OSCPA: What led you to become an expert in tax?
Watson: I went back to college at age 28 to earn my accounting education and passed the exam while still a student. However, I did not have a plan for what type of accounting I would do. I was hired on at the greatly understaffed tax department at Tyson Foods. Shortly after my hiring, the Controller asked the Tax Director to organize a sales tax function at Tyson. They asked me what I knew about sales tax, and my reply was that "it is at the bottom of the receipt when I check out at Wal-Mart."

They entrusted me with building that function from the ground up. This was a wonderful opportunity to develop into this niche of accounting. No one goes to college planning to be a sales tax specialist.

OSCPA: What do you hope attendees take away from your session?
Watson: Training attendees to be sales tax specialists would be an impractical task, but accountants need to recognize the common and important issues that can cause substantial economic impact for their companies and clients.

OSCPA: How has your experience changed how you view taxes and/or accounting?
Watson: Unfortunately, I have come to realize that some governmental personnel seem to be intent on extracting the most tax they can using whatever reason they can, rather than seeking to serve the taxpayers of their states to help them comply with the law and be treated fairly and with respect. In recent years, in some states, this has become a very frustrating situation for me as a tax representative, as I see my clients being treated unfairly.

Fortunately, some good folks are in these roles, and it is refreshing to work with them to resolve tax issues fairly.

Attend the Lunch + Learn

OSCPA's September Lunch + Learn
September 17 | Oklahoma City | Virtual | Recommended CPE: 1 hour

Learning Objectives:

Identify major sales tax issues affecting Oklahoma taxpayers
Provide update regarding recent developments in Oklahoma and nationally