Item: Avalara
Rating: 4
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Avatax for our retail business; we utilize their API via our own tax service within checkout on our website and in our retail POS, as well as the NetSuite Connecter within NetSuite ERP. We also just implemented Streamlined Sales Tax through them. The Avatax service functions fairly well although we do experience some occasional hiccups. We also use Avalara to file monthly returns.

Pros and Cons

Automated & up-to-date sales tax calculation
Able to integrate via API through our own services & integrates with NetSuite ERP
Eases the process of filing returns

Expensive - pricing outgrows your own business growth
Pricing model is highly convoluted
Often unhelpful generic support - not able to help with integration challenges
Unexplained service outages or hiccups

Return on Investment

positive - time spent calculating rates and filing tax returns
negative - tax calculation inconsistencies and need for manual tax balancing

Systems Integrated With

Our own tax service via Avatax API
NetSuite via NS Connector

In both cases, initial setup was straightforward but troubleshooting issues is a challenge.

Usability

Good experience with service via API connection but lack of visibility to how it functions via NS Connector that makes it hard to troubleshoot issues.

Additional Capabilities

Avalara Returns

Alternatives Considered

TaxJar

TaxJar seems to have a better pricing model.

Likelihood to Recommend

Avalara handles a lot of tax calculation and compliance use cases well and automates a lot of processes for you, however, the pricing model seems more convoluted and more expensive than competitors offering same services and the support is often unhelpful.

Good Product, room for improvement in both Pricing/Support

Modules Used

Overall Satisfaction with Avalara