About

Philip Ghaly is a Founder and Managing Partner at Reliance Sales Tax Advisory, LLC. Philip is an experienced sales tax specialist who has worked in the industry for more than 18 years. He offers a distinctive viewpoint that emphasizes providing his clients with the advantages of high-quality services typically associated with larger firms while delivering the personalized attention and commitment one would expect from a smaller firm.

Philip has an extensive professional background in the tax services industry, having spent 12 years at Ryan LLC, one of the largest global tax services firms. During his tenure, he specialized in reverse sales tax audits and audit defense for numerous fortune 500 companies. In addition, Philip worked as a consultant at Deloitte and Thomson Reuters for over 5 years, providing valuable support to more than 500 mid-market clients in managing complex indirect tax matters and identifying tax savings opportunities. He has also gained in-house experience, having assisted Citigroup in the development of their tax department.

His expertise spans across various industries, such as manufacturing, research and development, broadcasting, communications, telecommunications, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, security services, retail, construction, and financial services.

Philip is highly proficient in the fields of big data, software, and tax law. He possesses excellent organizational skills, adeptly solves problems, and excels as a project manager, consistently driving improvements in efficiency across all tasks.

When he is not devoting himself to supporting businesses in navigating intricate tax laws, Philip indulges in his passions for software development, electronics, and computer engineering. In his leisure time, he enjoys participating in autocross events.

Career Highlights:

Throughout his career, Philip has had the privilege of working with a diverse range of high-profile clients, and has been proud to assist them in achieving significant tax savings and recoveries such as:

Manufacturing, R&D, and Construction:

A global leader in filtration, separation, and purification technologies, where he reduced an audit assessment by $2.9M by identifying sales tax overpayments related to manufacturing and R&D.

A healthcare company that provides kidney dialysis services and related treatments for patients with chronic kidney failure and end-stage renal disease, where he recovered $650,000 in manufacturing and R&D sales tax overpayments.

A global manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products where he reduced an audit assessment by $350,000 by identifying manufacturing exemptions.

A retail chain, where he recovered over $200,000 in overpaid sales tax.

Broadcasting and Communications:

A professional American sports league, where he recovered $250,000 in New York by identifying broadcasting exemptions.

A multinational communications company that provides broadband, voice, video, data, and managed services to consumers and businesses, where he recovered $1.2M in overlooked datacenter exemptions.

A global media company, where he identified and obtained tax savings in excess of $1.5M by analyzing various state tax issues.

Financial Services:

A global investment banking, securities, and investment management firm where he recovered $15M by identifying sales tax overpayments for information services and software user allocations.

A global financial services company, where he identified and obtained tax savings in excess of $6M by analyzing various state tax issues.

A financial holding company, where he identified and obtained tax savings in excess of $1M by analyzing various state tax issues.

Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare:

A global pharmaceutical company, where he obtained a refund of $2.1M by identifying and claiming exempt manufacturing equipment purchases.

A healthcare company that provides kidney dialysis services and related treatments for patients with chronic kidney failure and end-stage renal disease, where he obtained tax savings in excess of $1M by analyzing various state tax issues.

A medical technology company, where he obtained tax savings in excess of $500,000 by analyzing various state tax issues.

Security Services:

A global security and cash services company, where he identified and obtained tax savings in excess of $3M by analyzing various state tax issues.

Retail and Luxury Goods:

A luxury fashion company, where he obtained tax savings in excess of $500,000 by analyzing various state tax issues.

A luxury jewelry and specialty retailer, where he obtained tax savings in excess of $100,000 by analyzing various state tax issues.

At RelianTax Advisory, we leverage our extensive knowledge of sales tax exemptions and taxability issues to minimize your tax liability. 

By taking the time to understand your business and its unique needs, we're able to tailor our solutions to help you achieve maximum savings and compliance.

Sales Tax Compliance Services

Leave the burden of sales tax compliance to us. We handle all aspects of registration and filing, ensuring proper compliance in states with tax obligations. Our experts calculate taxes owed, prepare and submit tax returns, and respond to notices or audits from tax authorities.

Sales Tax Audit Defense

Representation for sales tax audits that are fair and accurate. We prepare clients with documents and information, work with auditors to resolve issues, and help navigate the appeals process. Our goal is to provide high-level service and expertise for your sales tax compliance needs.

Refund Studies | Recovery of Overpaid Sales Tax | Reverse Sales Tax Audit

Experienced professionals specialize in reverse sales tax audits, identifying and recovering overpaid sales tax through a comprehensive review of your company's records. Initiated by your company, this process results in cost savings for your business.

Voluntary Disclosure Agreements

As a third-party representative, we evaluate compliance history, identify issues, and prepare a comprehensive agreement to present to tax authorities, while ensuring anonymity. This proactive approach can prevent penalties and interest charges, providing peace of mind for businesses.

Sales Tax Consulting and Planning

Expert sales tax guidance to stay compliant with laws and regulations. Our team helps with nexus determination, taxability, exemptions, and sales tax planning to minimize liability and boost profitability.

Sales Tax Registration

Our sales tax registration services help clients register for sales tax in states where they have economic nexus. We ensure that our clients are properly registered and in compliance with state regulations. Trust us to handle your sales tax registration needs efficiently and effectively.