Avalara
Avalara provides cloud-based tax compliance software that automates sales and use tax, VAT, and excise tax calculations for businesses of all sizes across global e-commerce and retail channels.
TaxJar
TaxJar is a cloud-based compliance platform that automates sales tax calculation, reporting, and filing for e-commerce businesses to simplify multi-state tax management and ensure accurate financial record-keeping.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Avalara | TaxJar |
|---|---|---|
| Website | avalara.com | taxjar.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | $19/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 60 days free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2004 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, USA | Woburn, USA |
Overview
Avalara
Avalara helps you navigate the complex world of transactional taxes without the manual headache. You can automate tax calculations, manage exemption certificates, and handle filing and remittance across thousands of jurisdictions globally. The platform integrates directly with your existing ERP, e-commerce, or billing system to provide real-time tax rates based on precise geolocation rather than just zip codes.
You can reduce the risk of audits and penalties by ensuring your business stays compliant with ever-changing tax laws. Whether you are selling online, across borders, or through multiple physical locations, the software scales to handle your transaction volume. It simplifies the entire tax lifecycle from calculation to document management, allowing your finance team to focus on growth instead of regulatory paperwork.
TaxJar
TaxJar helps you navigate the complexities of e-commerce sales tax without the manual headache. You can connect your storefronts to automatically calculate taxes in real-time, track where you have reached nexus thresholds, and generate signature-ready reports. It eliminates the stress of keeping up with changing state laws and varying tax rates across thousands of jurisdictions.
The platform is designed specifically for online sellers, from small boutiques to high-volume enterprise retailers. You can automate your entire filing process with the AutoFile service, which handles your returns and payments directly with the states. By centralizing your tax data from multiple channels like Amazon, Shopify, and Walmart, you maintain a single source of truth for your business compliance.
Overview
Avalara Features
- AvaTax Calculation Get instant, accurate sales tax calculations for every transaction based on precise geolocation and current tax rules.
- Returns & Filing Prepare and file your tax returns automatically across multiple jurisdictions to ensure you never miss a deadline.
- Exemption Management Collect, store, and track sales tax exemption certificates digitally to stay prepared for potential audits.
- Cross-Border Compliance Calculate customs duties and import taxes in real-time so your international customers see the total cost upfront.
- Business Licensing Research, apply for, and renew the specific business licenses you need to operate legally in any location.
- Tax Content Research Access a massive database of taxability rules for millions of products and services to ensure correct categorization.
TaxJar Features
- Real-time Calculations. Calculate accurate sales tax at checkout for every jurisdiction using a rooftop-level API that handles complex state rules.
- Nexus Tracking. Monitor your sales across different states to see exactly when and where you have met economic nexus requirements.
- AutoFile Service. Enroll in automated filing to have your sales tax returns submitted and paid to the state on your behalf.
- Multi-Channel Sync. Connect your Shopify, Amazon, and eBay accounts to pull all your transaction data into one centralized dashboard.
- Reporting Tools. Generate return-ready reports that break down your sales and tax collected by state, county, and local district.
- TaxJar API. Integrate tax calculations directly into your custom application or ERP with a developer-friendly API that scales with you.
Pricing Comparison
Avalara Pricing
TaxJar Pricing
- Automated data syncing
- Economic nexus insights
- Return-ready reporting
- Email support
- Up to 200 orders per month
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Real-time tax calculation API
- Exemption certificate management
- Multi-channel reporting
- Phone support
- Advanced user permissions
Pros & Cons
Avalara
Pros
- Extensive library of pre-built integrations for popular ERPs
- Highly accurate geolocation-based tax calculations
- Significantly reduces manual data entry for tax filings
- Reliable automated updates for changing tax laws
- Streamlines the management of tax exemption certificates
Cons
- Initial setup and mapping can be time-consuming
- Customer support response times can be inconsistent
- Pricing can become expensive as transaction volume increases
TaxJar
Pros
- Seamless integration with major platforms like Shopify
- Clear visibility into state-by-state nexus status
- AutoFile saves hours of manual data entry
- User-friendly dashboard simplifies complex tax data
Cons
- AutoFile carries an additional fee per filing
- Pricing increases quickly with higher order volumes
- Limited support for international VAT requirements