A contractor signed a contract, started the work, and found out 30 days later their sales tax classification was wrong. The bill: over $300,000.
This isn’t a rare edge case. It’s happening to contractors across Ohio and beyond — because the rules are complex, the classifications aren’t obvious, and most businesses don’t find out until they’re already in an audit.
In this on-demand session, REA principals Joseph Popp and Scott Bechtel break down exactly where contractors get hit — and what to do about it before it costs you.
You’ll learn:
- How one contract clause triggered $300,000 in unexpected tax exposure
- Where states draw the line between real property and business fixtures — and why getting it wrong changes everything
- The use tax blind spot behind 80% of construction audits
- What happens to your tax, payroll, and licensing obligations the moment you send a crew across state lines
- How to protect your margins before your next audit
Your Presenters
Joseph Popp, JD, LLM | Principal, Sales & Use Tax Services
Joe helps construction and manufacturing clients navigate state and local tax. With a JD from Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law and an LLM in Taxation from Capital Law School, he brings a legal and practical lens to sales and use tax classification, multi-state nexus, and audit defense.
Scott Bechtel, CPA | Principal, Construction & Real Estate
Scott has spent over 30 years working with construction and real estate clients on federal and state tax compliance, advisory, and planning. He specializes in helping growing contractors get ahead of obligations that surface when expanding into new states or preparing for ownership transitions.
Ready to assess your exposure? Contact Joseph Popp or Scott Bechtel directly to get started.
