Specializing in Washington State Excise Taxes since 1991
Smith Auditing Services (SAS) was founded in 1991 by Ben Smith. We are a consulting
firm that specializes in Washington State excise tax matters. In the 33 plus years since our
founding, we have successfully recovered over $150 million in overpaid taxes for clients.
Generally, we provide two types of services:
(1) Our most common engagement involves a limited, “specific issue” arrangement. This
is often preferred by the clients that we have specifically targeted due to our knowledge of reporting errors being commonly made within an industry.
(2) We also perform full “reverse audit” engagements, which are broader in scope and involve a more complete review of business activities and tax liabilities in Washington. Reverse
audits are often sought by companies that have recently undergone mergers, acquisitions,
or key personnel changes. At such times many companies want to verify that compliance
formats are correct going forward; and that all overpayments relating to past periods are
identified and recovered. In addition to recovering overpayments, we assist in establishing
efficient, legally correct compliance procedures aimed at minimizing future tax liabilities.
Both types of reviews are performed on a contingency fee basis, where the contingency fee
represents the entire compensation to SAS. Thus, our travel and other expenses will always
remain our own responsibility.
We try to make the process as risk-free to our clients as possible. We also try to make the
process as close to “turn key” as possible. We prepare all schedules, petitions, amended
returns, etc. We follow up with the tax authorities to make sure that the process stays on
track. If a Washington auditor is assigned to review a refund claim, we will be present to
work with the auditor to help minimize the time our client’s personnel must spend on a
project.
Our clients always retain control of the process. We do not communicate with tax authorities
without first getting specific permission to do so. If a client chooses not to seek a refund, then
there will be no fee. This is true even if the client chooses to withdraw a claim after it is filed.
We do not earn a fee until a client actually receives a refund or credit.
Smith Auditing Associates
Partner
Ben Smith
Founded SAS in January of 1991. He is now in his 33rd year of providing consulting services to private industry. Prior to 1991, Mr. Smith was an auditor for the State of Washington Department of Revenue for nearly 13 years. Most of that time was spent in the out-of-state unit dealing with the unique set of issues confronting those who make sales or deliver services across borders.
Partner
Janaka Jayasekera
Joined Smith Auditing Services in early 2012, following a 22 year career with the State of Washington Department of Revenue. Most of that time was spent as the lead senior auditor stationed in the Southern California Region. During his long career, Mr. Jayasekera has reviewed the business activities and Washington tax liabilities of many of the largest companies in the world.
References
Shell Oil Company
P.O. Box 2463 Houston, TX 77210-2463
Contact: Jim Breedlove
Manager, Indirect Tax
phone: 713-705-6975
email: james.breedlove@shell.com
Downie timber ltd
P.O. Box 800, Revelstoke, BC V0E 2SO, Canada
Contact: Petra Van Dijk
Director: Controller
phone: 250-837-7231
email: petra@downietimber.com
Schwans Food Company
115 W. College Dr.
Marshall, MN 56258-1747
Contact: Connie Moen
Tax Manager
phone: 507-537-8752
email:connie.moen@schwans.com
WM Bolthouse Farms, Inc.
7200 E. Brundage Ln.
akersfield, CA 93307-3016
Contact: Brian Donnen
V.P., Controller, Chief Accounting Officer
phone: 661-366-7209
email: bdonnen@bolthouse.com
Harvest Food Products Company
710 Sandoval Way
ayward, CA 94544-7111
Contact: Connie Kha, CEO
or Donne Pulvermacher, Controller
phone: 510-675-0383
email: ckha@harvestfoodproducts.com
Sun Rich Fresh Foods, Inc.
22151 Fraserwood Way
Richmond, BC V6W 1J5
Contact: Stephen Davies
V.P. Finance
phone: 778-296-4684
email: steved@run-rich.com
Taylor Farms Northwest
8030 South 228th Street Bldg A
Kent, WA 98032
Contact: Aaron Cutting
Controller
phone: 206-432-3448
email: acutting@taylorfarms.com
British Petroleum
501 Westlake Park Blvd.
ouston, TX 77079
Contact: Gavin W. Atkinson
Manager, Excise Tax
phone: 281-366-4886
email: atkinsgw@bp.com
J R Simplot Company
P.O. Box 27 Boise, ID 83707
Contact: Cindy Enslow-Bennett
Tax Manager
phone: 208-389-7357
email: cindy.bennett@simplot.com
Korean Air Lines LTD
6101 W. Imperial Hwy.,
os Angeles, CA 90045
Contact: Frank Lee
Tax Manager
phone: 310-417-5243
email: jflee@koreanair.com
Palermo Villa, Inc, dba Palermo Pizza
3301 W Canal St.
Milwaukee, WI 53208-4137
Contact: Ross Perry
Assistant Controller
phone: 414-643-0919
email: r.perry@palermospizza
Dietz and Watson, Inc.
5701 Tacony St
Philadelphia, PA 19135-4311
Contact: Ann Shire
Controller
phone: 215-831-9000 ext 2227
Pacific Energy Fireplace Products ltd
2975 Allenby Road
Duncan BC V9L 6V8, Canada
Contact: Robert Dozzi, CPA, CA
Chief Financial Officer
phone: 250-748-1184 x244
email: robert.dozzi@pefp.net
Chevron Corporation
2003 Diamond Blvd.
Concord, CA 94520-5738
Contact: David Retz
Corporate Tax Attorney
phone: 925-827-6395
email: dret@chevron.com
Bernatello's Pizza, Inc.
200 Congress St
Maple Lake, MN 55358
Contact: Duane Ebert
Controller
phone: 320-963-6191
mail: debert@bernatellos.com
Richwood Meat Company, Inc.
2751 N. Sante Fe Dr. Merced, CA 95348
Contact: Diane Inks
Chief Financial Officer
phone: 209-722-8271
email: dianeinks@richwoodmeat.com
Cuizina Food Company LLC
18585 142nd Ave NE
Woodinville, WA 98072
Contact: Mike Donovan
Tax Director, JGC Food Company LLC
phone: 503-445-9194
email: mdonovan@harrysfresh.com
Northern Gold Foods Ltd
1725 Coast Meridian Rd
Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 3T7
Contact: Howard Siemens
Controller
phone: 604-941-0731
mail: howard@northerngold.com