Jason W. Bernett
Tulsa,OK
Summary
Accomplished professional with over 25 years of experience in indirect taxation, specializing in U.S. and Canadian sales and use tax. Expertise includes tax calculations, compliance, and dispute resolution, ensuring a comprehensive approach to managing complex tax issues. Currently serving as an Indirect Tax Accountant at Ingredion, responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of tax filings, audits, and exemption certificate management. Strong commitment to compliance with tax regulations is complemented by effective communication with internal and external stakeholders, fostering collaborative relationships that enhance operational efficiency.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Indirect Tax Accountant
Ingredion, Inc.
09.2023 - Current
- Prepared U.S. and Canada sales and use tax calculations and analysis to ensure accurate filing of tax returns in accordance with state deadlines.
- Reconciled U.S. and Canada sales and use tax accrual accounts in Cadency to maintain financial integrity.
- Managed U.S. and Canada GST, HST, QST sales and use tax audits and research issues raised during audit.
- Resolved tax assessments and/or notices through written and verbal communication with state and local tax representatives.
- Created the weekly Diagnostax analysis report in SAP to review the tax analysis on both vendor sales tax paid purchases and vendor use tax accruals.
- Researched tax issues, questions, and communicated to internal and external auditors.
- Initiated timely electronic filings and payments.
- Issued sales tax exemption certificates to vendors.
- Prepared journal entries to reverse use taxes on transactions exempt from U.S sales tax.
- Successfully recovered over $826k in refunds for overpaid US and Canadian sales and use taxes in CA, WA, WI, and Saskatchewan Province.
Sales Tax Lead
Airgas USA, LLC
03.2022 - 09.2023
- Determined proper taxability of customers and transactions for AR, CO, MO, NM.
- Performed sales and use tax research.
- Maintain sales tax research of state laws and policies applicable to Airgas Central Division.
- Reviewed and approved exemption certificates provided by customers to substantiate customer tax exemptions.
- Resolved customer tax disputes with a strong customer service focus.
- Oversaw the more complex tax issues that arise usually due to complicated state laws or customer situations.
- Determined proper taxability of customers and transactions.
- Maintained exemption certificates in maintenance software.
- Supported Corporate Tax Department in managing customer tax exceptions in sales tax software.
Senior Accounting Tax Specialist – Indirect Tax
U.S. Venture, Inc.
06.2021 - 11.2021
- Prepared motor fuel and sales/use tax returns for U.S. Venture, Inc., IGEN LLC, Tire's Warehouse, and U.S. Forefront Energy, LLC. for thirteen states.
- Reconciled general ledger tax accrual accounts.
- Setup customer's motor fuel licenses in IGEN fuel tax software system.
- Setup origin/destination, type of fuel, and tax rates for pipeline and in-stock transfer receipts in Compass.
- Released daily customer invoices in Petroman once a proper motor fuel license was set up in IGEN.
Sales Tax Associate - Contractor
Ingredion, Inc. (Manpower Group)
11.2019 - 06.2021
- Assisted with the Vertex Sales Tax Implementation Project by reviewing invoices to determine the taxability of products and services purchased by Ingredion.
- Verified if the correct general ledger accounts and material groups were used to properly code the products and services for sales/use tax purposes.
- Submitted the vendor exemption certificate Excel template to engineers, procurement managers, and plant controllers to fill out to determine how purchases were used to determine taxability.
- Requested sales tax exemption certificates from vendors and Ingredion customers.
- Answered tax questions in sales tax inbox.
- Reviewed the vendor invoices in the weekly Diagnostax analysis report for use tax accruals to pay or reverse.
Senior Sales & Use Tax Accountant
Chesapeake Energy
08.2019 - 10.2019
- Managed Louisiana Parish sales and use tax audits, ensuring compliance with state regulations.
- Prepared and submitted the Oklahoma sales and use tax return accurately and on time.
- Reconciled sales and use tax accrual accounts to maintain financial integrity.
Senior Tax Analyst
Santander Consumer USA, Inc.
11.2018 - 07.2019
- Prepared monthly, quarterly, and annual sales/use tax returns.
- Reconciled sales tax accrual accounts.
- Reviewed sales tax exemption certificates provided by customers.
- Provided sales tax return documentation to state auditors and answered questions.
- Trained and mentored department staff.
Tax Accountant II
Lehigh Hanson, Inc.
11.2017 - 11.2018
- Oversaw the multi-state and Canadian sales tax returns filed by Ryan, LLC, prepared the ACH credit tax payments, and reconciled the tax accounts.
- Oversaw the multi-state IFTA, Canadian IFTA, and the Federal Excise Tax - Form 720 tax returns filed by Ernst & Young and prepared the fuel tax payments by check.
- Updated the sales tax rates in JD Edwards and Command billing system for the various Lehigh Hanson locations.
- Pulled the monthly billing files in Excel, compressed the files in Access, and submitted them to Ryan, LLC.
- Responded to sales tax exemption certificate requests, W-9 requests, and answered sales tax questions from internal and external customers in the Lehigh Hanson Tax Inbox.
- Provided invoices and documentation for sales and use tax audits.
Sales Tax Specialist II
Airgas USA, LLC
05.2016 - 11.2017
- Interfaced with customers to determine validity of tax exemptions.
- Utilized SAP & Vertex O Series software to determine proper taxability.
- Researched CO, ID, UT, WY, MS, TN state sales tax laws.
- Daily oversight of customer transactions generated by the branch stores using the SAP billing block report & SAP tax override report.
- Assisted branches to resolve tax issues for daily billing blocks & daily tax override reports.
- Approved & processed daily tax only credit invoice requests generated by the branch stores and credit specialists for short payment on invoices due to sales tax.
- Maintained files of all correspondence to customers related to sales tax.
- Supported the Corporate Tax Department in managing customer tax exceptions in the sales tax software with special setups of selected items for customers that do not follow a standard tax category.
- Upload and maintain exemption certificates in Docuware software system.
- Provided guidance and assistance concerning sales tax issues to Central Division Branch Offices and the Central Division Accounting Department.
- Provided the Corporate Tax Department with support for sales and use tax audits.
Tax Analyst
Helmerich and Payne, Inc.
11.2011 - 02.2016
- Prepared the monthly property tax accrual for the various properties located in AR, CA, CO, LA, ND, NM, OK, TX, UT, WV, WY.
- Updated the rates and values for the various properties in the Dynamics AX system.
- Prepared and submitted check requests to the A/P Department and mailed tax checks for the various properties to the county and state districts in a timely manner.
- Reviewed monthly purchase invoices to ensure sales and use taxes and rates were charged correctly on direct and indirect drilling components used at various rig locations.
- Prepared journal entries to accrue or reverse sales and use taxes on monthly purchase invoices incorrectly coded by accounts payable clerks.
- Prepared state and local use tax estimates for potential rigs moving to different states for the Marketing Department.
- Prepared a detailed tax analysis on rig assets moving to different states and provided state and local use taxes due for the Marketing Department.
- Assisted the IT Department in developing an automated rig bid tax analysis report to prevent running multiple reports with the same information, increasing the speed and accuracy for marketing and operation demands, and minimizing the need to rework the bid by the Tax Department.
- Provided purchase invoices, fixed asset details, monthly sales and use tax returns, working papers, use tax summary reports, and journal entries to state and local auditors and answered verbal and written questions.
- Reviewed monthly sales and use tax returns prepared by department staff for accuracy.
- Entered monthly sales and use tax payments into the Bank of Oklahoma ACH payment system, Net Connect.
- Prepared journal entries to record payments, clear cash, and discounts for monthly sales and use tax payments.
- Responded to IRS lien notices regarding the quarterly filing of Form 2290 Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return and provided banking documentation showing payments were filed on time before the due date.
- Requested and successfully received a WV refund in the amount of $44,337.38 in less than one month for use taxes paid to vendors on oil rig components used in drilling which are exempt from taxation.
Excise Tax Analyst
ConocoPhillips Company (Addison Staffing until hired perm)
07.2010 - 11.2011
- Prepared monthly CO, IA, NE, MT, ID motor fuel tax returns on time and reconciled tax accrual accounts.
- Prepared Form 84 Nebraska Non-Ag Use Motor Fuels Tax Refund Claim each month for motor fuel purchases made by agencies of the federal government.
- Assisted management in preparing the Alaska Harbor Maintenance Fee Quarterly Summary Reports.
- Changed the motor fuel tax rates in SAP and Zytax to correctly report tax information.
- Trained new excise tax analysts on how to prepare motor fuel tax returns.
- Responded to customer service questions regarding taxability of motor fuels, customer tax disputes, and provided current list of licensed customers and distributors.
Motor Fuels Tax Analyst
CITGO Petroleum Corporation (Accounting Principals until hired perm)
08.2005 - 07.2010
- Configured and tested changes to the Zytax motor fuel tax software program.
- Prepared monthly AL, CT, NY, OH, SC, VA, and WI State and local motor fuel tax returns on time and reconciled tax accrual accounts.
- Communicated with government auditors, customers, and suppliers in challenges to CITGO's interpretations of state motor fuel tax laws and regulations.
- Determined customer's tax status and proper code in SAP.
- Coded the appropriate SAP files to reflect the tax status of new customers meeting the tax requirements of their state and existing customers after changes in their tax status or changes to the state's laws.
- Worked independently to analyze corporate data as provided by reports in SAP and other systems to assure proper application of state motor fuel tax laws as it applies to the preparation of state motor fuel tax returns.
- Monitored the implementation of state motor fuel tax law changes as they relate to CITGO's tax reporting function.
- Made necessary changes in SAP and Zytax to correctly report tax information.
- Conveyed changes to affected areas within CITGO as well as informing customers of these tax changes and the impact they may have on their operations.
- Successfully negotiated an initial $1 million New York tax assessment on gasoline receipts to $12,000 with no additional taxes or penalty due.
Tax Accountant
Emmons, Hartog, & Swarthout, P.C.
01.2005 - 06.2005
- Worked my first tax season in public accounting preparing individual, partnership, corporation, estate, and trust income tax returns.
Business Tax Compliance Coordinator
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
05.2002 - 11.2004
- Same previous job responsibilities. Please see below.
Sales and Use Tax Accountant Contractor
Accounting Solutions – Oklahoma Fixture and Installation Company
02.2002 - 05.2002
- Managed the Oklahoma sales and use tax audit for Oklahoma Installation Company ensuring compliance with state regulations.
- Prepared multi-state sales and use tax returns, streamlining the reporting process for the organization.
Business Tax Compliance Coordinator
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
01.1999 - 10.2001
- Prepared monthly, quarterly, and annual sales/use tax returns.
- Prepared business license renewal filings for corporate locations and ensured all license fees were paid.
- Processed business personal property tax payments for corporate locations.
- Prepared quarterly state estimate income tax returns.
- Prepared allocation and apportionment schedules for state income tax returns.
- Amended sales/use tax returns to claim bad debt reductions, fuel credits, and tax exemptions.
- Verified revenue accounts were taxed at the correct county, city, and state rates in the tax matrix and Fastlane reservation system.
- Responded to tax inquiries from state and local tax authorities by researching problems, answered auditing questions, issued verbal and written corrections, and supplied additional information to substantiate tax return calculations.
- Assisted the general ledger accounting department in reconciling the over/undercollections of taxes.
- Researched and evaluated state laws to determine tax registration, collection requirements and prepared applications for business licenses and tax registration for new corporate locations.
Education
Associate's Degree - Accounting
Tulsa Junior College
Tulsa, OKBachelor's Degree - Accounting
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OKSkills
- Access, Dynamics AX, Excel, Esker, IGEN, Oracle, Power Point, Word, Business Objects, CCH, Checkpoint, Avalara TTR, SAP, JD Edwards, Thomson Reuters OneSource, PTMS, ROSS, Fastlane, SAXTAX, Vertex, Zytax, Compass, Petroman, RUDI, Cadency Reconciliation
HONORS
Dollar Rent a Car Employee of the Year, 2002, Dollar Rent a Car Employee of the Month, August 2002
Languages
Spanish
Limited Working
Thai
Elementary
Timeline
Indirect Tax Accountant
Ingredion, Inc.
09.2023 - Current
Sales Tax Lead
Airgas USA, LLC
03.2022 - 09.2023
Senior Accounting Tax Specialist – Indirect Tax
U.S. Venture, Inc.
06.2021 - 11.2021
Sales Tax Associate - Contractor
Ingredion, Inc. (Manpower Group)
11.2019 - 06.2021
Senior Sales & Use Tax Accountant
Chesapeake Energy
08.2019 - 10.2019
Senior Tax Analyst
Santander Consumer USA, Inc.
11.2018 - 07.2019
Tax Accountant II
Lehigh Hanson, Inc.
11.2017 - 11.2018
Sales Tax Specialist II
Airgas USA, LLC
05.2016 - 11.2017
Tax Analyst
Helmerich and Payne, Inc.
11.2011 - 02.2016
Excise Tax Analyst
ConocoPhillips Company (Addison Staffing until hired perm)
07.2010 - 11.2011
Motor Fuels Tax Analyst
CITGO Petroleum Corporation (Accounting Principals until hired perm)
08.2005 - 07.2010
Tax Accountant
Emmons, Hartog, & Swarthout, P.C.
01.2005 - 06.2005
Business Tax Compliance Coordinator
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
05.2002 - 11.2004
Sales and Use Tax Accountant Contractor
Accounting Solutions – Oklahoma Fixture and Installation Company
02.2002 - 05.2002
Business Tax Compliance Coordinator
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
01.1999 - 10.2001
Associate's Degree - Accounting
Tulsa Junior College
Bachelor's Degree - Accounting
Oklahoma State University