Case Study: DIRECTV streamlines 4,000+ sales & use tax filings and frees tax team for strategic work with Vertex Inc.'s Sales & Use Tax Returns Outsourcing

DIRECTV Outsources Returns To Focus On More Strategic (And Career-Building) Work

DIRECTV, a global digital television provider serving over 30 million customers, faced a complex tax compliance burden—four billing systems, three tax engines, and more than 4,000 sales and use tax returns filed across 50 states each year. After experiencing data, service and accuracy problems with prior outsourcers, DIRECTV selected Vertex and its Vertex® Sales & Use Tax Returns Outsourcing to regain control, transparency, and tax expertise.

Vertex implemented a controlled monthly process—ingesting DIRECTV’s 13 monthly tax data files, preparing and filing returns, managing payments and notices, and providing 24/7 portal access to archived returns and reconciliation reports. The Vertex solution reduced in-house support (from two full-time equivalents to one person spending about 60% of his time on returns), improved accuracy and timeliness, streamlined month-end close, and freed the tax team to pursue higher-value work (reverse audits, M&A, tax research) that contributed directly to the company’s bottom line.

DIRECTV

Brian Smith

Director of Indirect Taxes