Kristin Alexander

Avalara • 04/08/2026

The smart hotelier's guide to tax automation and compliance management

Hotels across the United States contributed a combined $26.1 billion in lodging taxes to state and local government revenues in 2025, according to a January 2026 report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Lodging tax revenues generated by hotels are expected to reach $26.6 billion in 2026. With billions at stake, it’s no surprise hospitality tax compliance is under the microscope — and notoriously difficult to manage.

Avalara • 11/24/2025

Navigating M&A tax compliance

Mergers and acquisitions are often driven by bold goals: entering new markets, accelerating innovation, and diversifying revenue streams. But companies often overlook tax compliance as a source of risk in the deal life cycle.

Government Technology • 10/02/2025

Secure by Design: A Plan for Ransomware Defense

GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY PAPER SPONSORED BY SOPHOS. Sophisticated adversaries — from organized cybercriminal groups to nation-state actors —are targeting public sector systems with unprecedented speed and precision. Ransomware remains one of the most damaging threats.

Government Technology • 09/23/2025

Open source, open future: Government and education embrace a better model for AI

GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY PAPER SPONSORED BY RED HAT. As public sector organizations explore how to adopt artificial intelligence, the challenges they face extend far beyond technical capabilities. Questions of trust, security and the ability to upskill teams are front and center. Increasingly, one answer is emerging: The future of AI is open source.

Government Technology • 09/07/2025

No Wrong Door: Modernizing Digital Identity for Seamless Government Access

GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY PAPER SPONSORED BY OKTA. State and local governments want better, faster and more efficient processes that eliminate agency silos and strengthen cybersecurity across the enterprise. Meanwhile, constituents want easy access to government services and a seamless, satisfying user experience. But many governments rely on decades-old login infrastructure that can’t address those needs.

Avalara • 09/04/2025

What subscription businesses should know for sales tax compliance

Consumers have shown they’re willing to be billed on a recurring basis for many services and products like streaming, software, fitness memberships, meal kits, and curated boxes of everything from cosmetics to pet treats. Selling this way offers businesses numerous advantages, like predictable cash flow. ... However, recurring billing often translates to recurring sales tax risk.

Avalara • 08/28/2025

Reinventing Finance and Tax: Leaders see AI and e-invoicing as agents of change

Finance and tax teams are embracing a new era: one where artificial intelligence and automation are not just tools for improving efficiency but serious powerhouses in ensuring compliance across an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. Today’s businesses face growing pressure to comply with global e-invoicing and live reporting mandates. These challenges are added to an already overflowing plate of international and domestic tax compliance obligations.

Avalara • 07/10/2025

Navigating Use Tax: Industry insights for smarter compliance

You collected sales tax. You paid the vendor invoice. You filed your sales and use tax returns. But are you sure you’re compliant?

Government Technology • 05/22/2025

Understanding Cyber Risks in the AI Era

GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY PAPER SPONSORED BY SOPHOS. Artificial intelligence is changing the game for government cybersecurity. Gone are the days when security teams could weed out phishing emails based on simple indicators like misspellings or awkward syntax. Today’s cybercriminals are weaponizing AI to evade detection and launch more sophisticated attacks. AI is also reshaping the cybersecurity landscape for IT teams working to protect networks and secure sensitive data.

Avalara • 05/21/2025

Cross-border ecommerce trends: How global businesses are adapting to growth, regulation, and risk

Significant growth in global ecommerce is creating new opportunities for businesses worldwide. The chance to enter new markets also presents challenges, especially where logistics and compliance with complex trade regulations are concerned. To understand how businesses are adapting to this shift, Censuswide surveyed 903 executives overseeing global logistics, supply chain, and international trade compliance.

Avalara, Inc. • 01/23/2025

Avalara tax changes 2025

I wrote the sections on beverage alcohol, communications, and excise (energy, fuel, tobacco, and vape) for Avalara's flagship annual report.

Avalara, Inc. • 11/25/2024

The future of AI in finance and tax compliance

Finance and tax professionals are under increased pressure to operate more efficiently while remaining strategic business advisors. The growing importance of their ability to shape the overall direction and success of their organizations is demonstrated by how companies worldwide are investing in technology to improve how finance and tax teams perform their jobs.

Avalara • 04/03/2024

Strategic tax administration: How governments can improve compliance and maximize efficiency

States, local governments, and businesses suffer when companies fail to comply with tax regulations.

Avalara, Inc. • 03/05/2024

Know Your Nexus

Getting sales tax compliance right is important. The first step is understanding where your business has nexus, or where you need to collect and remit sales and use tax. Nexus is ever-changing and it can be confusing for even savvy professionals.

Avalara • 10/11/2023

Sales and use tax audits: How to prepare your business

Expanding into new markets, adding new sales channels, and launching new products are great for growing revenue but these activities can affect sales and use tax obligations. It’s important for companies to consider how changes to their business may impact their audit risk.

Avalara • 09/22/2023

State of finance market trends report

How global tax and finance teams are using automation to transform challenges into opportunities.

Avalara • 09/12/2023

2023 communications tax changes - Avalara

Wrote the communications section of Avalara Tax Changes 2023, highlighting trends and key issues impacting the communications industry. Updated and expanded the report in fall 2023.

Avalara • 07/21/2023

The future of business: How automation is driving efficiency and innovation for today's leading industries

Wrote the six industry perspectives for this report for Avalara.

Avalara • 04/11/2023

The state of beverage alcohol tax compliance

The beverage alcohol industry has grown exponentially in recent decades. ... Avalara worked with leading research firm Potentiate to find out how wineries, breweries, distilleries, and retailers are managing compliance.

Avalara • 11/15/2022

Communications tax complexity: Is your business on the hook for new taxes?

As technologies like streaming, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) make their way into a wide variety of products and services, many businesses are experiencing increased tax complexity. Companies that integrate new features or enter into mergers are often surprised to discover they may have liabilities beyond sales and use tax.