Multi-state compliance without the full-time hire.
I build and run your sales tax and income/franchise compliance program so expansion doesn't create surprise filings, notices, or penalties.
The Problem
Multi-state tax issues don't show up as a neat “project.”
They show up as surprise nexus, missed filings, state notices, and uncertainty every time you expand into a new state, channel, or entity.
Surprise States
New nexus triggers you didn't see coming — remote employees, marketplace sales, inventory in a 3PL.
Missed Deadlines
Filing calendars across 10, 20, 30+ states with different frequencies, thresholds, and rules.
State Notices & Penalties
Notices pile up. Penalties compound. And your CPA or bookkeeper isn't equipped to own the multi-state program.
What I Own
Fractional SALT leadership + hands-on support
I can be hands-on where it makes sense (registrations, notices, select filings) and also operate as oversight (calendar, controls, review, vendor coordination). The goal is a program that doesn't depend on heroics.
Nexus & Footprint Management
Ongoing monitoring of sales, payroll, inventory/3PL, contractors, affiliates, and marketplace activity. State-by-state footprint tracker and decision thresholds.
Registrations & Account Maintenance
New state registrations, account cleanup, agency correspondence. Prevent 'account drift' that triggers notices and penalties.
Filing Program Oversight
Build and maintain filing calendars across states. Define data inputs, reconciliation steps. Prepare/review/manage filings (sales tax + income/franchise).
Notices, Audits & Audit Readiness
Triage and respond to state notices. Penalty abatement strategy. Workpaper standards and documentation for defensibility.
Systems, Process & Controls
Align bookkeeping/ERP, marketplace reports, and tax engines (Avalara/TaxJar). Improve data flow so filings are repeatable and reviewable.
Executive Reporting & Decision Support
Monthly SALT dashboard: exposure, upcoming actions, risks, and decisions. Expansion support for new states, channels, warehouses, and entities.
Packages
Three ways to engage
Start with an assessment to get clarity, then move to ongoing fractional management when you're ready.
SALT Footprint & Exposure Assessment
Fixed fee · 2–3 weeks
Best for businesses that need clarity before committing to ongoing support.
- Nexus analysis and footprint map (sales tax + income/franchise)
- State-by-state risk/exposure ranking
- Filing requirements summary and priority plan
- Filing calendar + monthly data request list
- Recommendations for registrations, cleanup, and controls
Fractional SALT Manager
Monthly retainer · Ongoing
Best for controllers/finance teams who need someone to own the process and keep it moving.
- Maintain nexus tracker + filing calendar
- Registrations and account maintenance (as needed)
- Coordinate/prepare/review filings (hybrid based on your setup)
- Notice triage and responses
- Monthly check-in + email support between meetings
Fractional SALT Director
Monthly retainer · Premium
Best for CFO/founder-led companies scaling quickly, adding states/channels, or cleaning up past issues.
- Everything in Manager, plus:
- Expansion decision support (new state/channel/warehouse/3PL/entity)
- Quarterly footprint + controls review and audit readiness program
- Executive-ready SALT dashboard and risk narrative
- Cross-functional coordination (bookkeeping, ops, legal, payroll)
Final scope depends on entity count, state count, data quality, and whether filings are prepared in-house, outsourced, or managed through a tax engine. If historical exposure exists, a separate cleanup/VDA project may be recommended.
Outcomes
What you can expect
Fewer surprises
Missed filings, late registrations, and unexpected exposure become a thing of the past.
Faster, cleaner responses
Notices and agency requests handled with confidence and proper documentation.
A program that scales
Your multi-state compliance grows with your business — not against it.
Audit-ready workpapers
Clear documentation that stands up to scrutiny, every time.
A trusted coordinator
I work with your bookkeeper, CPA, attorney, and internal team — not around them.
How We Work Together
Simple, structured, predictable
Assessment (Fixed Scope)
We start by mapping your footprint and prioritizing what matters most. You get a clear picture of where you stand and what to do first.
Ongoing Fractional Management
Once the program is defined, I run it month-to-month with a clear cadence: monthly check-ins, ongoing monitoring, filing management, notice handling, and quarterly reviews.
Typical Cadence
Who This Is For
Businesses with multi-state exposure
For the CFO
“I prevent surprise exposure and make multi-state tax costs predictable so you can expand confidently.”
Risk + predictability
For the Controller
“I build the calendar, data flow, and documentation so filings and notices stop being a scramble.”
Process + fewer fires
For the Founder
“I'll tell you where you're exposed, what to fix first, and I'll run the program month to month.”
Speed + clarity
Best fit for businesses with:
About Me
Melinda Phelps, CPA, MBA
I'm a state and local tax (SALT) specialist with over 15 years in public accounting, including Big 4 experience. I founded M.S. PHELPS CPA PLLC in 2017 to bring Big 4-caliber SALT expertise to businesses that don't need (or can't justify) a full-time hire.
My focus is multi-state sales tax, income/franchise tax, nexus analysis, and compliance program management — especially for e-commerce, SaaS, marketplace sellers, and services companies expanding across state lines.
I earn 80+ CPE hours over each two-year Michigan licensing period, teach e-commerce tax courses, and stay current on marketplace facilitator laws, Wayfair implications, and evolving state-level rules.
“I'm the specialist SALT layer. I coordinate with your existing CPA/bookkeeper; I do not compete for the full relationship. The result is a cleaner, more defensible multi-state program.”
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Get Started
Let's get your footprint clear and your program under control.
If you're operating in multiple states (or about to), the first step is a conversation. Book a 20-minute SALT footprint triage or start with a full assessment.
Based in
Detroit, Michigan — serving clients nationwide
