--- title: "How to See If Taxes Are Affecting Your Meeting’s Profits" id: "61266" type: "post" slug: "how-to-see-if-taxes-are-affecting-your-meetings-profits" published_at: "2024-04-16T21:42:23+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-11T18:06:39+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2024/04/16/how-to-see-if-taxes-are-affecting-your-meetings-profits/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2024/04/16/how-to-see-if-taxes-are-affecting-your-meetings-profits.md" excerpt: "Do you have a full grasp of the taxes that apply to your meeting, including for your vendors and attendees? Focus on these three key areas." taxonomy_category: - "Business Development" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Associations Now" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » How to See If Taxes Are Affecting Your Meeting’s Profits Part of the Deep Dive[Building Business Savvy](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/building-business-savvy-navigating-a-new-landscape/) While striving to be thrifty with event budgets, planners might let nicely priced packages drive their decisions on meetings. But if they haven’t assessed their tax needs, they could see an event’s profitability suffer. [Diane Yetter (opens in a new tab)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianeyetter/) , president and founder of Yetter Tax and the [Sales Tax Institute (opens in a new tab)](https://www.salestaxinstitute.com/) , has spent her entire career talking about taxes. She identifies some of the key tax factors to be aware of when hosting a meeting. ### Find Out If the State Has a Sales Tax It’s not a foregone conclusion that an event will be subject to a state sales tax. In fact, choosing a destination in a state with no such tax can save a bundle right from the start. The sales tax rate in many states around the country is 6 to 7 percent. “Saving that money is going to potentially make or break their profitability on that event,” Yetter said. “So, looking at states where there is a lower sales tax is absolutely something to do.” Oregon is one of the few states with no sales tax. Dione Williams, director of convention sales for Travel Portland, said saving the sales tax is almost like having additional budget when hosting an event, and it gives planners flexibility to create memorable experiences for their attendees. “Some groups have opted to save the sales tax and put it toward the bottom line,” he said. “Many groups increase budgets in other areas, whether they’re enhancing the arrival experience or reception or providing specific amenities for their attendees. It allows you to do a lot more things budgetwise.” Williams said that not having a sales tax is a direct benefit to attendees, too. “Outside of the conference hours,” he said, “when they’re exploring the destination and they’re shopping and going to restaurants and so forth, they see that savings firsthand.” Of course, cost savings is only one aspect of choosing the right destination for an event. Williams points to a destination’s amenities, ease of access from the airport, venue availability, and competitive hotel rates as other meaningful factors. “It’s good to let people know about the sales tax,” he said, “but we hear from clients that Portland is an all-around value.” [ASAE Staff](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/) Tags: [#Associations Now](https://associationsnow.com/tag/associations-now/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## More in this Deep Dive - [New Paths to Profit](https://associationsnow.com/2024/04/16/new-paths-to-profit/) - [Products and Purpose](https://associationsnow.com/2024/04/16/products-and-purpose/) - [New Rules for Association Sales Staff](https://associationsnow.com/2024/04/16/new-rules-for-association-sales-staff/) - [Business Development for Data-Driven Times](https://associationsnow.com/2024/04/16/business-development-for-data-driven-times/) - [How Larger, Tech-Forward Venues Create Revenue Opportunities for Associations](https://associationsnow.com/2024/04/16/how-larger-tech-forward-venues-create-revenue-opportunities-for-associations/) - [Three Ways to Use Meetings More Strategically](https://associationsnow.com/2024/07/31/three-ways-to-use-meetings-more-strategically/) [View the full Deep Dive →](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/building-business-savvy-navigating-a-new-landscape/) ## You Might Like - [TemplateMembers onlyMember Onboarding ToolkitNovember 5, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/05/member-onboarding-toolkit/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [VideoPartnerships that Drive Success: ASAE Strategic Partnership AllianceAugust 26, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/26/partnerships-that-drive-success-asae-strategic-partnership-alliance/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2024%2F04%2F16%2Fhow-to-see-if-taxes-are-affecting-your-meetings-profits%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !