What it does
Avalara connects tax calculation, returns and reporting with accounting, billing and ecommerce systems. Its range covers US sales tax, VAT, cross-border duties and other tax types. US Avalara Select plans charge by state, while larger or more complex requirements receive a custom package; developers can evaluate AvaTax in a separate 90-day trial.
Avalara connects transaction-tax work to the systems that record business activity. AvaTax calculates tax, while Managed Returns handles the filing and remittance workflow. Other products cover VAT, duties, exemption records and specialist tax types.
A useful distinction in AvaTax is the transaction's status. An Uncommitted transaction has been saved but is excluded from Managed Returns reporting and filing until committed. Committed records are included on reports and the next filed return. Void records are excluded. Locked means the transaction has reached a tax return; changing it requires Avalara support or a return amendment.
For an integration, cancelling an invoice in the billing system also requires updating its corresponding AvaTax transaction. The software connection must handle that status change as well as the initial calculation.
US sales-tax packages
Avalara Select prices are per state. The published plans are:
| Plan | Monthly billing | Annual billing | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Compliance | US$79 per state per month | US$799 per state per year | Businesses below US$50 million annual revenue; calculation, Managed Returns, exemptions and state-threshold monitoring |
| Core Compliance + SST Services | US$69 per state per month | US$699 per state per year | Adds the Streamlined Sales Tax programme for eligible sellers |
| Custom | Quoted | Quoted | Larger businesses, multiple entities and advanced requirements |
Avalara says qualifying sellers can receive state-funded calculation, filing and remittance in up to 25 participating states through SST. Eligibility and the states involved determine that support; it is not an unrestricted free subscription.
Evaluating an integration
The AvaTax trial is specifically for partners and developers. It lasts 90 days, needs an account and requires no credit card. Limits are five orders and five invoices per minute, with a daily total of 1,000 transactions.
The trial gives access to application programming interfaces (APIs) and software development kits for connecting another application. It should not be treated as a trial of every Avalara product. The chosen commercial package determines which calculation, reporting and filing services are included.
Strengths
- US Select packages combine calculation with Managed Returns
- Transaction statuses distinguish saved, reportable and already-filed records
- The developer trial publishes both per-minute and daily usage limits
Watch out for
- Select charges scale with the states covered
- State-funded SST services depend on seller eligibility
- A transaction already included on a return cannot be changed through the ordinary void workflow
Best for
- Businesses connecting US sales-tax work to accounting or ecommerce systems
- Developers integrating tax calculation with billing transactions
Sources
- Avalara tax compliance products (Oct 27, 2026)
- Avalara Select pricing (Oct 27, 2026)
- AvaTax developer trial (Oct 27, 2026)
- AvaTax transaction statuses (Oct 27, 2026)
- Update voided or deleted invoices in AvaTax (Oct 27, 2026)