Room for improvement for sure, but I could not live without Avalara!!
November 04, 2020

Room for improvement for sure, but I could not live without Avalara!!

Summer Hagge | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Modules Used

  • AvaTax
  • Returns

Overall Satisfaction with Avalara

We use Avalara company-wide to calculate sales tax on our invoices for sales, rentals, repairs, consulting and training, software, and warranties. We also have Avalara remit our returns to our taxing authorities. This has ensured that we remit exactly what we collect, as well as that we are collecting exactly what we should be.

Pros

  • Reports
  • Returns
  • Sales Tax

Cons

  • Exemptions tab
  • Implementation
  • Explanation and Instruction on features
  • Sales tax would not be possible without an extra person if we didn't have Avalara to collect and file.
  • Rate is reasonable.
  • Implementation and coordination with other software is Avalara's weakest point.
  • QuickBooks
  • Miscrosoft Business Central
  • Shopify
Quickbooks was an ok set up, but the actual tax calculation was so open for error that only one person in my company could calculate and send invoices to customers accurately. Business Central calculation has been easier, but would be nice if one could check the rates inside of BC. Also, HUGE issue with our sales quotes templates not being able to show tax. Shopify doesn't work with Avalara accounts that already exist.
It is a necessary tool, but I wish there were other sales tax calculators to choose from. Avalara doesn't have to fight for my business, because I need them. However, their implementation and support are very lacking.
  • Avalara Returns
100%. I LOVE the filing of the returns... it makes my life SO much easier! If we are not always 100% sure that we are following all tax rules correctly (which of course, they are all so open-ended and confusing), at least we know that Avalara is capable of charging per guidelines better than a human. And we are confident that whatever Avalara collects, it remits... so that really helps my peace of mind.
Every google search about tax I have ever made directs me to Avalara; so I assume they are the leader in this area.
Avalara is well-suited to companies that sell in an area with many jurisdictions that need to be collected and filed for. Avalara is also well-suited for a company that sells many different types of items (i.e: tangible, intangible, computer software, rentals, services, consulting). If a company only sells in one place or only has one type of item, this service is not necessary.

Avalara Feature Ratings

Type of tax
8.0
Sales and Use Taxes
8
Cross-border Taxes
8
VAT / GST Taxes
Not Rated
Energy and Fuel Taxes
Not Rated
Tax Reporting & Compliance
5.3
Geolocation for Tax Assessment
8
3rd-Party Software Integrations
6
Tax Data Reporting
7
Compliance Administration Management
5
Tax Exemption Processing
3
Tax Document Management
3
Complex Tax Scenario Management
5

Comments

  • Bobby Sands | TrustRadius Reviewer
    Bobby Sands
    (Vendor Representative) commented 4 years ago
    Summer, thank you for taking the time to write about your experience with Avalara. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to continuing to support you. If there are additional thoughts you’d like to share, particularly around areas where you would like to see improvement, we’d appreciate learning more. Please contact customercare@avalara.com to continue the conversation with us.

More Reviews of Avalara

  1. Home
  2. Tax Compliance Software
  3. Avalara Reviews
  4. User Review of Avalara