Vertex Inc., the leading provider of advanced tax technology solutions, recently hosted Vertex Exchange Europe 2008 on September 17 and 18 in Brussels, Belgium. It is the first conference in Europe to explore using technology to meet the challenges of managing global indirect taxation, and offered attendees a glimpse of strategic solutions that are available to mitigate risk and control costs.
"There is a wide array of legislative changes taking place and on the horizon for European countries relating to Value Added Tax," said Alan James, Vertex Director of Client Solutions based in Vertex´s European office. "This inaugural conference was held to offer European companies and consulting firms the opportunity to learn more about the technology options available to help them steer a path through the often overwhelming process and system changes needed to ensure ongoing compliance and help achieve real savings through improved cash–flow management, reduced penalties, and audit readiness."
The conference keynote address was delivered by Professor Richard Susskind OBE to over 50 global indirect taxation professionals and major consulting firm partners. In his keynote, Susskind addressed current trends in tax technology, shared his predictions for the direction that tax technology will take over the next 20 years, and discussed how this will impact the delivery of tax technology and services. Susskind has specialized in legal technology for 25 years and serves as an independent advisor to major professional firms, as well as national governments. Since 1998, Susskind has served as IT Adviser to the Lord Chief Justice of England, and was appointed as Chair of the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information in 2003.
In addition to Professor Susskind´s address, Stephen Bill of the European Commission presented a session on forthcoming legislative changes to VAT systems within Europe and how technology would need to play a leading role in making these changes happen. Bill joined the European Commission in 1981, where he has held several positions including Head of the VAT Unit. He has been responsible for the preparation of legislation relating to VAT on imports and exports, and for the development of the "New VAT Strategy," which launched in June 2000.
The conference covered topics that included: The Challenges of a Shifting Legislative Environment, Handling Global Changes to the Business Model, and Introduction to U.S. Transaction Tax Automation.
For more information on Vertex, or to view the Vertex Exchange Europe post conference Web page, please visit http://www.vertexgts.co.uk/exchange2008/.
ABOUT VERTEX INC.
With more than 30 years of experience, Vertex Inc. is the leading provider of advanced tax technology solutions, delivering products and process management services to customers worldwide.
Vertex solutions help companies streamline tax compliance processes and leverage information to discover new strategic tax savings. In addition, they enhance decision information across every major line of business tax, including income, sales, consumer use, value added, communications, and payroll. To serve its customers, Vertex works in partnership with the world´s leading providers of ERP software and related services.
Founded in 1978, Vertex is a privately held company that employs over 600 professionals at its headquarters in the U.S. (Berwyn, Pa.) and Europe (London), and its offices in Atlanta, Chicago Dallas, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sarasota, and Washington, D.C.
For more information about Vertex, visit the Web site at www.vertexinc.com.
