Why More Tax Leaders Are Rethinking How Compliance Gets Done
For corporate tax departments managing extensive property tax portfolios, complexity is a given. Each cycle brings tight deadlines across numerous jurisdictions, limited staff capacity, and increasing scrutiny from finance and audit teams.
Most leaders in this position have already implemented systems, built internal processes, and layered in technology. But even with all of that in place, many are now asking the same question:
How much longer can we keep scaling this internally—without driving up costs, overextending the team, or increasing risk?
The Pressure Points Are Familiar
Even the most capable internal teams face recurring challenges:
- Resource strain and turnover: Limited internal bandwidth, frequent retraining, and team members split across multiple tax and finance functions
- Process inefficiencies: Manual data entry, heavy reliance on institutional knowledge, and suboptimal use of compliance software tools
- Deadline and oversight risks: Overlapping state deadlines, errors in filings or payments, difficulty maintaining audit readiness, and visibility
- Rising operational costs: Ongoing investment in technology, staff training, and keeping systems up to date
In many organizations, the current model functions well enough—but only through significant internal effort. As complexity grows, more teams are questioning whether that effort is sustainable, or if there is a more strategic way to scale.
Technology Alone Is Not Enough
Most large tax departments use software platforms to manage returns, track deadlines, and organize documentation—and that’s essential. Technology plays a foundational role in property tax compliance.
But a truly scalable model is not just about automation—it’s about building a strategy that flexes with real-world conditions. One that can absorb volume spikes, adapt to jurisdictional nuances, and maintain accuracy under pressure.
That kind of strategy doesn’t come from software alone. It takes:
- Integrated systems that support every stage of the cycle—from returns to notices to payments
- A centralized compliance engine built to handle volume—refined through decades of high-throughput experience
- Experienced consultants who know how to navigate the difference between standard jurisdictional guidelines and what is actually accepted by local authorities
DMA’s model brings all of that together—people, process, and platform—in a way that allows tax departments to scale compliance without scaling stress.
When It’s Time to Co-Source
The inflection point usually isn’t a breakdown—it’s a pattern. Too many cycles where the team is underwater. Too many gaps covered by overtime. Too little capacity to think beyond the next deadline.
That’s when tax leaders start looking at co-sourcing—not as a last resort, but as a smarter path forward.
DMA partners with tax departments that want to:
- Offload preparation, payments, and routine reviews
- Preserve visibility and control
- Improve accuracy and reduce audit risk
- Free up internal teams for strategic, higher-value work
- Reduce the internal burden of hiring, retraining, and maintaining technology—while gaining the breathing room to focus on strategic savings like appeals, exemptions, and incentives
Rethink the Model Before the Model Breaks
If your compliance process is being held together by institutional knowledge, workarounds, or sheer determination—you’re not alone. But there is a more scalable way to manage it.
DMA’s team works alongside corporate tax departments to help them rethink how compliance gets done—bringing together experienced people, refined processes, and enabling technology to support growth without added strain.
Property Tax Compliance Expertise
Connect with DMA’s property tax experts to explore what scaling compliance could look like for your organization. Our team brings decades of experience helping corporate tax departments streamline operations, reduce risk, and meet deadlines with confidence.
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| This website content should be used for general informational purposes only, and not as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, legal, or other competent advisors. Before making any decision or taking any action based upon information contained on this website, you should consult with a DMA professional. |