Sales tax compliance can be complex, with many different state and local governments each establishing their own rules and requirements. For accountants managing compliance for multiple clients, there's an overwhelming amount of information to keep track of.
Sales tax software simplifies this process. The right sales tax software makes nexus tracking effortless, helps to ensure every client is in full compliance, and automates the process of collecting and remitting sales tax while filing returns across many jurisdictions.
Whether you are an accountant specializing in e-commerce companies, software businesses, or clients in any other industry, picking the right software can make all the difference in your ability to manage sales tax compliance for multiple clients. The good news is, there are many options on the market. Here are nine possible programs worth considering.
Numeral
Numeral offers software designed for e-commerce and software businesses. Designed by accountants, Numeral has almost no learning curve and makes it possible to manage sales tax compliance in less than five minutes. You'll also be able to access 24/7 live chat support when you need it. Here's what you need to know about Numeral.
Key Features
Key features of Numeral include:
- 24/7 monitoring and immediate notification if clients meet Nexus tracking
- Automatic registration of client businesses in all states with no required phone calls on your part
- Management of client tax collection across 11,000 jurisdictions
- Automated monthly, quarterly, and annual remittances
- 24/7 live customer support
- State mail processing and notification if any responses are required
- Excemption certificate management
- Sales tax API and engine
Available integrations
Numeral offers easy integrations with the tools you're currently using, including eBay, Amazon, Stripe, Shopify, and more. Connections are 100% secure as Numeral serves as a bridge between your client's platforms and sales tax.
Pricing
Numeral does not require a long-term contract and charges a flat fee per filing per state, regardless of revenue collected. State filings are $75 per filing, and state registrations are $150 per state, which is less than half the price of some competitors.
How to get started
To get started, book a demo online or request a free sales tax analysis.
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Avalara
Avalara is designed for companies across a wide variety of industries including retail, software, marketplace, manufacturing, accounting, communications, supply chain and logistics, hospitality, short-term rentals, beverage alcohol, direct sales, energy, tobacco and vape and insurance. Avalara has more of a learning curve than many competitors and isn't as transparent about cost. Here's what you need to know about Avalara.
Key Features
Here are some of Avalara's key features:
- Accurate rate calculation based on product classification and geolocation
- Automatic sales tracking
- Option to register with multiple states in one minute using a single form
- Automated return preparation and filing
- Remit taxes to multiple jurisdictions with just one payment
Available integrations
Avalara has more than 1,200 built-in integrations and also offers an advanced API so you can integrate with any platform you need.
Pricing
Avalara is a state-certified provider for Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) and qualifying sellers in close to half of the U.S. can qualify for free sales tax service. However, for companies that don't qualify, Avalara's pricing isn't very transparent, and the cost of state registrations is double what Numeral and other competitors charge.
How to get started
To get started with Avalara, visit the company's site and click Get Started. You'll complete a simple form and specify whether you'd prefer to get in touch via phone, form, or chart.
TaxJar
TaxJar's product is focused on retail, Saas, medical, food, and beverage companies and is ideal for multi-channel sellers. The cloud-based software incorporates AI to streamline sales tax compliance for small and midsize businesses. The learning curve is minimal, and the company receives mostly good reviews for customer service.
Key Features
Key features of TaxJar include:
- Real-time sales tax collections across 11,000 jurisdictions
- Cloud-based platform with AI-driven product categorization
- Automated transaction reports
- Economic nexus dashboard to track when you've established economic nexus
- Automated filing using data from your ERP system or eCommerce dashboard
- Exemption certificate management with the ability to upload and store exemption certificates
Available integrations
TaxJar provides an API to build custom integrations and also offers pre-built integrations with many popular platforms, including eBay, Quickbooks, Shopify, and Square.
Pricing
TaxJar offers a starter and professional plan. The starter plan begins at just $19 monthly and includes a single user account with up to three data-important integrations. The Professional plan starts at $99 monthly and includes 10 integrations, up to 200 monthly orders, real-time tax calculation, and multi-user access.
How to get started
To get started, visit the TaxJar website and click "Try for Free" or "Contact Sales." If you opt for the free trial, you'll get full access to all Professional Plan features for 30 days as well as the option to add 60 days of order data for reporting.
Anrok
Anrok is exclusively designed for software companies, which means it is uniquely tailored to the needs of this industry. It has a simple platform that's easy to learn and also offers help with physical nexus tracking by allowing you to connect HR software to monitor how your remote hires impact your sales tax obligations.
Key Features
Key features of Anrok include:
- Global sales tax compliance with U.S. sales tax and VAT across multiple regions, countries, states, or home-rule cities.
- Real-time sales tax calculation to provide accurate sales tax estimates during the checkout or invoicing processes
- Nexus trackin, including physical and economic nexus
- Pre-built returns and automated filing options to make tax filing and remittance simple
- Management of exemption certificates
Available integrations
Anrok has pre-built integrations for sales software, accounting software, and HR software. You can easily integrate with multiple common platforms including Stripe, Intuit QuickBooks, and Xero, among others.
Pricing
Anrok offers multiple price tiers, including a $499 starter pack that includes global exposure monitoring, filing, and remittance; a $999 core option with global exposure modeling, additional integrations, and multi-entity support; and a grow options with customizable pricing that provides advanced exemption certificates, access to historical returns, and a dedicated onboarding manager.
How to get started
To get started with Anrok, click "Book a demo" on the company's website. You'll get a free 30 minute presentation from an expert to understand how the program can work for you.
Stripe Tax
Stripe Tax facilitates tax calculations in more than 60 countries, as well as within all states in the U.S. Stripe Tax doesn't just work with payments that are processed within the Stripe platform. You can collect and report on all payments, even those made with other payment processors. The program is also designed for "any kind of business," so no matter the industry your clients operate in, Stripe Tax is a viable solution for sales tax compliance.
Key Features
Here are some of the key features of Stripe Tax.
- Automate sales tax compliance from across the globe
- Nexus monitoring and alerts when you've reached the filing threshold
- Automated management of the U.S. tax registration process
- Returns can be filed through approved partners
- No-code or low-code setup depending on payment processor
- Automatic collection of taxes
- Tax ID validation from B2B customers
- Tax reporting data
Available integrations
You can add a single line of code to existing integrations, click a button in your Stripe dashboard, or use Stripe's AP to integrate with all the different platforms you're currently using.
Pricing
Pay-as-you-go and subscription-based models are both available. For subscription-based pricing, you have a choice of four tiers ranging from Tier 1, which is $90 for up to 200 transactions and 2,000 calculation API calls up to Tier 4, which is $1,500 and manages up to 5,000 transactions and 50,000 calculation API calls.
How to get started
To get started, visit the Stripe Tax website and click "Start Now." You can create an account online to get started, or contact sales to get help choosing the right solutions for you.
TaxCloud
TaxCloud is designed for companies in a wide variety of industries, including retail and eCommerce, software, manufacturing, medical, health and wellness, food, and outdoor recreation. The software manages tax compliance across more than 13,000 U.S. jurisdictions and automates filings to guarantee 100% compliance with local tax rules. TaxCloud is also a Certified Service Provider in all 24 member states, which means it offers free services to eligible businesses, including sales tax returns preparation, filing, and remittance.
Key Features
Key features of TaxCloud include:
- Tax-optimized order capture to ensure accurate sales tax calculations in real time
- Accurate sales tax calculations across 13,000 U.S. jurisdictions
- Economic nexus monitoring
- Automated tax reporting and filing
- The ability to sync sales data across multiple problems, including importing transactions using a CSV file
Available integrations
TaxCloud offers integration with top e-commerce platforms, payment processors, and ERPs. You can also use the software's powerful API to create customized integrations.
Pricing
TaxCloud offers a free service to small businesses that need to monitor Nexus and that need to file sales tax in their home state. There are also paid options, including the $199 per year starter option that includes 1,200 orders and up to three integrations; and the $799 per year premium option that includes up to 2,400 orders and API access.
How to get started
To get started with TaxCloud, visit the company website and click "Start free 30-day trial." You can get signed up online with no credit card required.
Zamp
Zamp is designed for eCommerce businesses, CPG companies, SaaS, service businesses, and accounting partners. You'll get a dedicated account manager, pay no activation fees, and benefit from all-inclusive pricing rather than having to pay extra fees for the different services you need. The learning curve is minimal with Zamp, and the software saves companies 20 hours per month on average by streamlining sales tax compliance.
Key Features
Key features of Zamp include the following:
- Zamp is a fully-managed solution so compliance is as simple as clicking "Approve"
- Zamp's API allows for roof-top accurate sales tax calculations
- Zamp manages notices for you
- You can connect your eCommerce, marketplace, and ERP systems with a few simple clicks in just minutes
- Multi-channel support is available
- Tax filing is included in a simple all-inclusive package
- An Economic Nexus Tracker alerts you when you're approaching Economic Nexus
- Automated filing is available in the U.S.
Available integrations
Zamp offers one-click integration for a variety of sales and accounting platforms, and also offers a developer-friendly sales tax API to connect your existing e-Commerce, ERP, and marketplace systems effortlessly.
Pricing
Zamp's most popular pricing package is $999 per month, but the company offers multiple packages. Pricing is simple with a single fee for all services, including nationwide coverage.
How to get started
To get started with Zamp, contact them.
Kintsugi
Kintsugi allows you to automate your sales tax compliance in just three minutes. The company describes its program as "the most advanced and comprehensive AI solution ever built for sales tax compliance." Its product is focused on the needs of eCommerce and SaaS companies, and the founder built the automated platform after doing sales-tax compliance by hand for businesses within these industrie to understand the challenges.
Key Features
Key features of Kintsugi include:
- One-click sales tax registration across multiple jurisdictions
- Real-time sales tax calculation on every transaction at the point of sale
- Automated and instant tax filing with one click
- Advanced reporting features to track transactions and sales tax liability
- Economic Nexus exposure monitoring
- VDAs and back taxes
- Pay-as-you-go with no long-term contracts
Available integrations
Kintsugi promises hundreds of no-code integrations with popular sales and accounting platforms including Deel, Stripe, Woo, Gusto, Amazon, and more.
Pricing
Kitsugi offers a free starter option for companies just getting started. For companies filing in fewer than 10 states, the cost is $100 per filing. Larger companies can get custom pricing and additional features including access to APIs and premium connectors.
How to get started
To get started, click "Sign Up" on the Kintsugi website or call 415-840-8847.
Vertex
Vertex is more of an enterprise solution than others on this list as the company offers end-to-end compliance solutions for various aspects of business management. The program integrates with leading applications to provide tax support across 195 countries and 20,000 jurisdictions worldwide. Vertex software has a database with more than 800 million effective tax rules, so global organizations can feel confident in knowing their tax compliance is handled.
Key Features
Key features of Vertex include:
- Vertex Consulting can help you to implement Vertex sales tax solutions
- You'll have access to a wide range of training options
- Economic Nexus tracking
- 11,000+ state and local tax jurisdictions in the U.S. as well as tax support across 195 countries
- Automated sales and use tax management
- Centralized tax determinations across all of your transaction billing systems
- Automated tools help you collect, track, and store exemption certificates
- Standardized exemption certificate processing across 300 locations
Available integrations
Vertex integrates with accounting and consulting firms, system integrators, and financial application technology providers. You'll get one-click support for integrating ERP, CRM, procurement, billing, POS, and e-Commerce platforms. Vertex APIs also provide customized integration options.
Pricing
Vertex pricing can be complicated. The company makes an Excel file available to help you see what you'd pay for different services.
How to get started
To get started with Vertex, visit the company's website and click "Get in Touch."
Final Thoughts
Different programs excel at different things, and it's worth taking the time to carefully research your options to make sure that you're selecting the right sales tax software for accountants. Once you've found the best program out there based on features, price, and industry focus, managing your clients' sales tax compliance will be easier than you imagined.
