Enterprise tax software maker Sabrix Inc. released a new version of its transaction tax product that offers a complete automated tax management system at a price Sabrix thinks small and midsize companies can afford. The San Ramon, Calif.-based company's Think Global, Start Local release was introduced on a limited trial basis late last year, and according to Sabrix, it proved so popular with smaller companies that it accelerated the product's incorporation into its standard offering.

The Sabrix program handles sales, use and international value-added tax management. "The system automates the tax determination and calculation and then the recording of that with the authorities," says Carolyn Layne, senior vice president of marketing and business development at Sabrix. Think Global, Start Local also includes an integrated subscription to tax rates and research updates, downloading in real time all jurisdictional changes into a company's enterprise applications for purchase orders and invoices.

The system can be integrated with financial transaction systems, including those sold by SAP, Oracle and PeopleSoft. It's designed for documentation and audit requirements under Sarbanes-Oxley, making it easier to find and store records for review on demand. "Most finance and tax departments are looking for an inordinate amount of data to get through audits," says Layne. "With Sabrix, everything is ready to go, and [the system] has real-time dashboards and modeling tools so companies can see their global exposures and look at their cash exposures." Managers can manage their tax liabilities and credits, and the system helps to ensure that the company doesn't overpay. Entry-level pricing starts at $48,000 for an annual subscription that includes the Sabrix Application Suite, upgrades, support and tax research.