TaxValet | Sales Tax Blog | State laws, E-commerce, SaaS

When Mercury Goes Retrograde, Don’t Let Your Sales Tax Do the Same

Written by Richard Reynolds | Nov 12, 2025 12:03:44 PM

Everyone blames Mercury Retrograde when life gets weird. Emails vanish. Apps crash. Someone’s Wi-Fi gives up. And apparently, even your sales tax setup wants in on the drama. Reports disappear, rates multiply, and your accountant starts whispering about cosmic interference. 

Sure, maybe it’s the planets, or maybe Mercury’s just bored and needed a new challenge.

Let’s be honest, though. The universe isn’t out to sabotage your compliance (we hope). Sales tax doesn’t need celestial help to unravel. Each state already runs its own circus, changing rules faster than your software can keep up. Exemptions vanish, rates shift, and automation misfires quietly in the background while everyone points to the stars.

This blog will show you how to outsmart the chaos and keep your sales tax steady, no matter what the planets are plotting.

 

How to Stay Grounded During Cosmic Chaos

When everything feels off-kilter, stability starts with your process. Build gravity around it with these 5 tips...

 

1. Unite Your Data Before the Empire Strikes Back

Make sure your sales and tax data flow into one reliable system. When every platform speaks the same language, your accountant isn’t left reconciling mismatched reports. A clear hub makes it easier to catch errors early and stay confident in your numbers.

 

2. Know Your Cosmic Footprint

Sales in new states, remote hires, or a single warehouse move can all change where you owe tax. Check with your accountant regularly, so your registrations stay one step ahead of change.

 

 
 

3. Build a Filing Calendar That Defies Retrograde

Ask your accountant to keep a shared filing calendar that tracks due dates across every state where you file. A single calendar saves you from last-minute scrambles and unnecessary penalties.

 

4. Make Sure Your Systems Are in Alignment

Automation is amazing until it quietly stops working. Have your accountant run a few test transactions from different states to confirm your rates and rules are up to date. Small checks prevent big surprises.

 

5. Read Your Sales Tax Horoscope (Twice)

Set regular reviews with your accountant to compare what you collected against what you paid. It’s a simple way to stay proactive and avoid problems before the states find them for you.

 

Houston, We Fixed It

Sales tax can feel chaotic. It can feel like some mystical energy is working against you, as if the harder you try to stay compliant, the more things fall apart.

But more often than not, the chaos isn’t cosmic. It’s chaotic because the US sales tax system is one of the most complicated structures in the world. To conquer it takes years of expertise, which most people running a business don’t have time to do.

Thankfully, there’s help that can take this complex task off your hands and give you the calm and confidence every business owner deserves.

If sales tax has you spinning in circles, contact our team. We’ll help you steady your compliance, clean up your filings, and keep things running smoothly, no matter what Mercury’s plotting.