Karlsruhe, August 3, 2026 – Trade conflicts are poison for the global economy. As tariffs—some of which are substantial—erode or even eliminate the profitability of international business, pressure is mounting on companies to establish their own subsidiaries in the relevant target countries. But expanding beyond national borders brings its own challenges: Companies must correctly navigate sometimes complex tax systems and comply with international e-invoicing regulations. To provide companies with the best possible support for their international expansion efforts, the Karlsruhe-based ERP specialist Asseco Solutions is partnering with Avalara, one of the leading providers of software for tax compliance worldwide. The integration of both solutions enables, among other things, the effective calculation of applicable U.S. tax rates and reliable compliance with international e-invoicing regulations in more than 50 countries.
“In times of growing protectionism on the international stage, the only option left for many companies is often to establish local manufacturing subsidiaries in order to avoid high import duties. This applies to large corporations as well as small businesses,” explains Ralf Bachthaler, a member of the Executive Board of Asseco Solutions. “However, the challenges of international expansion often deter companies. Just consider the varying requirements for electronic invoicing from country to country or the complex regulations governing U.S. sales tax.”
Within the United States, the tax rates applicable to the sale of a product are not the same nationwide; rather, they are determined based on the type of product and the location of the seller and buyer. Software code, for example, is not subject to tax, whereas the sale of software on physical media is. A particular product may be subject to tax, while related services—such as maintenance—are not. Furthermore, the tax rates applicable to the sale of goods from North Carolina to Texas, for example, may be completely different from those for the sale of the same product to California.
“To successfully gain a foothold in new target markets, it’s crucial to know what specific considerations need to be taken into account and exactly how these can be implemented from a technical standpoint. The support of an experienced internationalization partner can be worth its weight in gold,” Bachthaler emphasizes. “We therefore support our customers on two levels: first, with our consulting expertise on internationalization in a wide variety of regions around the world, and second, by providing the right functional foundation in collaboration with our partner Avalara.”
Complex Tax Calculations Made Easy
Combining APplus with Avalara’s specialized tax engine results in a seamless process for customers: Through an interface, invoices generated in APplus can be sent to Avalara’s cloud service with just a few clicks. Based on the item classifications stored there, the solution automatically calculates the applicable U.S. tax rate—complete with a certificate and digital signature. Tax exemptions, which can also vary from state to state, are taken into account as well.
However, Avalara’s range of functions, when combined with APplus, is not limited to U.S. tax laws. A wide variety of other target regions—some of which may have similarly complex tax rate calculations—can also be supported in this way. For the export of goods from DACH countries to global target markets, a customs calculation updated daily can be generated at any time with just a few clicks.
Ready for E-Billing
By 2030 at the latest, invoices in Europe must be issued exclusively via e-invoicing; e-invoicing is already mandatory today in countries such as Spain, Poland, and Belgium. This also applies to companies that merely operate a permanent establishment in the relevant target markets. Through its partnership with Avalara, Asseco has laid the strategic groundwork for this and already offers the ability to implement e-invoicing in over 50 countries worldwide.
Live reporting (“E-Invoicing and Live Reporting,” ELR) of invoices is also possible, as required in various regions for tax purposes: In Spain, for example, invoices must be reported to the tax authorities within two hours; in countries such as Italy or Poland, invoices may not be sent to the customer until they have been reviewed and approved by the tax authorities.
Localized Financial Accounting for the U.S. Market
Even beyond Avalara’s range of functions, APplus enables companies to manage their financial accounting efficiently in the U.S. market: APplus Financial Accounting (FiBu) offers companies, among other things, precise and efficient bank reconciliation, quick entry of checks and credit card transactions, support for tax rates with the three decimal places required in the U.S., as well as functions for balance sheets and income statements in accordance with IFRS and U.S. GAAP. All components—including user interfaces, data models, messages, and reports—are fully localized in English.
More Information and Event Offerings
Customers and prospective clients can find more information on support for internationalization efforts here. Opportunities for discussion are also available through a wide variety of webinars that Asseco offers regularly—including in cooperation with the international tax consulting firm WTS, which provides expert support for rollout planning.