Top Taxjar Alternatives and Competitiors

Last Updated on December 4, 2023 by Ewen Finser

The rules around sales tax compliance are dynamic and complex for most businesses to navigate. Penalties and litigation come from failing to submit sales tax or paying the wrong tax amount to state authorities. Fortunately, sales tax software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions help businesses manage this tedious responsibility. From determining the correct sales tax rates and jurisdictions to filing returns, business owners can leverage these tools to remain compliant.

TaxJar, one of the leading sales tax software companies, works with business owners to automate sales tax collection and filing returns. While TaxJar stands out as an industry leader, other companies offer similar services. This article takes you through all you need to know about top TaxJar alternatives and competitors. You’ll also learn about the different features of each option, as well as why it may be suitable (or not) for your business.

Bottom Line Up Front

When choosing a TaxJar alternative, finding one that fits your needs is crucial. Look for a comprehensive, user-friendly solution that integrates with your existing software. Tax software with an extensive feature set and reliable customer service is an excellent option.

List of Top TaxJar Alternatives and Competitors

1. Avalara 
2. TaxCloud 
3. Vertex 
4. CCH SureTax
5. Sovos 
6. Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE
7. FileLINK by Sales Tax DataLink

TaxJar Overview

TaxJar is a leading SaaS provider of sales tax compliance services. TaxJar’s mission is to help small businesses manage the tedious task of collecting and remitting sales taxes. It works best with e-commerce platforms alongside third-party accounting tools to provide top-of-the-line sales tax services. 

TaxJar also works with accountants through its Tax Advisor Dashboard. TaxJar’s unique approach offers tax management features to accounting professionals who provide tax services to their clients. In each of the TaxJar plans comes an electronic filing system or AutoFile that automatically files tax returns with 47 state revenue departments.

Users have the option of integrating TaxJar with a third-party shopping cart, such as BigCommerce, or an accounting tool, such as QuickBooks Online or Xero. However, it also allows for data importation using a CSV file, allowing business owners to use TaxJar independently.

The setup process is easy and intuitive, as it takes you through a few steps to set up tax rates and jurisdictions. If the business is registered with a state revenue authority, TaxJar can find its information and automatically fill in many forms and registration applications, saving time.

Criteria for Choosing Top TaxJar Alternatives and Competitors

Selecting a service provider for small businesses or business owners new to sales tax is imperative. Many options on the market seem similar, making it difficult to determine which one’s right for you.

To select the most suitable alternative to TaxJar, consider these factors: 

Support

Customer support is an essential feature for any business, as glitches and issues will inevitably arise with time. Ensure that the provider you choose offers timely responses to inquiries and searchable documentation on its website.

Compatibility

Find out if your platform of choice integrates with third-party applications such as accounting software, shopping carts, and platforms. Also, if your business sells products in multiple states, ensure that the provider you choose makes it possible for you to manage all these obligations under one roof.

Pricing

Many providers offer free options but may lack particular features or deal only with smaller revenue. Comparing matching features across plans will help you select the one that best fits your needs.

Ease of Use

New business owners may not have the time or resources to deal with challenging processes or complicated integrations. Ease of use is crucial in selecting a top TaxJar alternative or competitor.

Real-Time Calculations

TaxJar offers real-time calculations, so you can see how tax rates are applied to your product line. Ensure that the service you select includes this feature, so there are no surprises when filing returns at the end of the year.

Top TaxJar Alternatives and Competitors

Below is a detailed analysis of top TaxJar alternatives and competitors:

1. Avalara

Avalara’s sales tax platform is perhaps the most well-known on the market. It provides various services to businesses, accounting professionals, and agencies. Avalara helps clients simplify their sales tax management with cloud-based compliance software that lets you file in real-time and accurately.

The company makes it easier to manage sales tax across all channels, including e-commerce, marketplaces, brick-and-mortar stores, and retail locations. It offers over 700 integrations with shopping carts, accounting tools, and other platforms. 

Avalara is an excellent alternative to TaxJar because of its expansive features and compatibility. Automating GST returns and filings is often an uphill task, and Avalara has been one of the pioneers in this field. Its cross-border e-commerce capabilities are unrivaled, with AvaTax built for global compliance.

Avalara also offers consumer use tax assessment and reporting. This service automates self-assessment on consumer use tax liability across the entirety of your business. This feature improves cash flow by correcting overbilled purchases while allowing you to establish control and improve the overall compliance of your enterprise.

Unlike TaxJar, Avalara has a geolocation feature that pinpoints the taxability of every product, service, and customer. This capability becomes increasingly important as businesses expand their reach beyond state lines. 

Avalara Pricing 

Avalara pricing varies depending on the needs of your business. However, it offers a 60-day free trial in its basic plan. 

• Basic: Starts at $19/month
• Standard: Starts at $83/month 
• Custom: Ask for a custom quote 

Avalara Pros 

• Uses cloud-based software 
• 700+ integrations 
• Real-time calculations 
• Nexus tracking capabilities
• Seamless integration with other systems
• Advanced cross-border e-commerce capabilities

Avalara Cons

• Transaction limits are too restrictive for some merchants
• Freelance find it quite overwhelming 

2. TaxCloud

TaxCloud prides itself as the internet’s most affordable sales tax compliance solution. It offers state paid option for sales tax compliance from 25 member states. In a basic sense, the 25 states pay TaxCloud to file and manage sales tax on their behalf, so merchants pay less for plans.

TaxCloud features a simple and easy-to-use platform with robust features for businesses of all sizes. Its features include an intuitive API, e-commerce management, revenue management, and optimal sales tax management, among many others. 

TaxCloud stands out as a top TaxJar alternative because of its affordability and comprehensive feature set. However, there is also merchant indemnification should sales tax audits occur. Essentially, either the state or TaxCloud is held accountable for any error or misinformation that could lead to an audit.

TaxCloud’s integrations with almost all shopping carts and other sales tax compliance solutions make it an attractive choice for businesses of all sizes. It also handles all communications between the seller and member states, relieving the company of this burden.

TaxCloud Pricing

TaxCloud isn’t entirely free. There’s a $10 base price that covers the maintenance of historical reports and data. API pricing starts at $20 per thousand between 1–1000 requests. However, the price reduces as the API requests increase per thousand. 

There’s also a percentage charge for sales in states that sellers collect tax. Pricing starts at 0.5 percent on the first $2 million sales. Visit the TaxCloud pricing page for detailed pricing of its core services.

TaxCloud Pros

• Affordable (state-paid service)
• Simple and easy-to-use platform 
• Comprehensive feature set 
• Integrations with almost all shopping carts and other sales tax compliance solutions 
• Offers multichannel marketing
• Great documentation
• Comprehensive help and support 

TaxCloud Cons 

• Instances of data discrepancies
• Integration isn’t as seamless as it should be
• Not entirely free as perceived
• Complicated pricing structure 

3. Vertex

Vertex is a cloud-hosted sales tax compliance solution for businesses of all sizes. It offers sales and uses tax calculation, exemption certificate management, and reporting, among other features. Vertex incorporates an end-to-end service model, meaning it is responsible for all aspects of sales tax management, from onboarding to compliance.

The Vertex platform ensures the filing calendar is always up-to-date with prepayment filing, management, and tracking at the core. You can manage all sales tax requirements through its single-point configuration system and continuously monitor jurisdiction and taxability changes.

Vertex SMB ensures timely customer withdrawals, amendment returns, and provides accurate credits adjustments. The solution also includes an automated audit response tool that helps reduce the impact of audits.Vertex is a top TaxJar alternative for its comprehensive feature set, ease of use, and cloud-based platform. Moreover, it provides seamless integrations with ERP solutions, billing systems, and other tax compliance solutions.

Vertex Pricing

Vertex pricing is available upon request. Note that it’s custom-based and includes a Vertex cloud license.

Vertex Pros

• Features an intuitive interface 
• Comprehensive feature set 
• Provides seamless integrations with ERP solutions, billing systems, and other tax compliance solutions 
• Cloud-based platform 
• Continuous update on jurisdictional and taxability changes 

Vertex Cons 

• Accessing customer support is only vis email 
• Lacks a free trial 

4. CCH SureTax

When looking for a sale tax software that can manage all of the complexities of sales and use tax, CCH SureTax is an excellent option. It’s a comprehensive solution that can help businesses with all aspects of compliance, from registration to reporting.

CCH SureTax comes with a real-time sales tax calculator to handle the most complex calculations and exemption determinations. It also allows users to manage an unlimited number of sales tax jurisdictions, essential for businesses with a national or multi-state presence.

By providing research data for audit trails and an extensive library of exemption certificates, CCH SureTax minimizes the chances of an audit. The solution also offers transaction tracking and address validation to ensure correct filings.

In addition to its calculation capabilities, you can put your complete trust behind Walter Kluwer’s team of experts that help reduce non-compliance risk. CCH SureTax covers over 24,000 jurisdictions and continuously updates the latest changes.

CCH SureTax is a top TaxJar alternative for its actionable insights, jurisdictional coverage, and overall compliance capabilities. It also offers industry-specific solutions for retailers, manufactured, professional and client services, and other businesses.

CCH SureTax Pricing

Contact the sales team for a quote.

CCH SureTax Pros

• Come with a free demo
• Extensive tax research for audit trails 
• Over 24,000 jurisdictions
• Offers Industry-specific solutions 
• Features an intuitive interface

CCH SureTax Cons

• Lack free trial 
• Pricing is not readily available online 
• Phone support not available outside business hours 

5. Sovos

Sovos is an award-winning tax compliance solution for businesses of all sizes. As a modern tax software, it offers cloud-based solutions to streamline global tax management and automate tax reporting. With Sovos, businesses can manage VAT, sales and use tax, regulatory reporting, and shipping compliance.

Sovos centralizes all the administrative functions for tax compliance in one place, making it a top TaxJar alternative. It offers an easy-to-use interface, fast and reliable support, and continuous innovation to meet the latest tax requirements.

By providing real-time updates, Sovos ensures that businesses are always compliant with the latest tax regulations. It also offers several features to help reduce the risk of an audit, including exemption certificate management, audit trail, and transaction tracking and analysis. 

Sovos users can attest to its motto, ” Solve Tax for Good,” focusing on customer satisfaction and success. It also comes with an intuitive interface with a flexible API for easy integrations.

Sovos Pricing

Get a quote by contacting the sales team.

Sovos Pros

• Cloud-based, Window, web-based, SaaS deployment options
• Real-time updates on tax regulations 
• Flexible API for easy integrations 
• Intuitive interface
• Multiple filing methods 

Sovos Cons

• No free trial 
• Pricing is not readily available online 

6. Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE

Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE is an all-in-one global tax compliance solution. It provides all the necessary services expected of tax software, including sales and use tax, VAT, and excise tax. It also offers compliance for global trade, indirect tax, ACA Compliance, Nonresident Alien Taxation, among many others.

ONESOURCE comes with a built-in research tool to help with exemption certificate management and audit trails for a complete history of all transactions. The software is also updated in real-time to ensure businesses are always compliant with the latest tax regulations.

Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE is ideal for businesses with a global presence as it offers a wide range of compliance solutions for different tax needs. Its certificate manager feature and real-time updates stand out, making it a top TaxJar alternative.

By covering all aspects of global tax compliance, Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE is a comprehensive solution for businesses of all sizes. It also offers an easy-to-use interface, fast and reliable support, and continuous innovation to meet the latest tax requirements. 

Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE Pricing 

Pricing is available upon request 

Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE Pros 

• Automating tax compliance for businesses of all sizes 
• Wide range of compliance solutions 
• Intuitive interface
• Certificate manager feature 
• Up to date tax regulations

Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE Cons 

• Data gathering isn’t as fast
• Finding the right support for your needs is tricky
• It can be overwhelming when handling vast amounts of data

7. FileLINK by Sales Tax DataLink

FileLINK takes all the hassle out of all aspects of tax compliance. Understanding the importance of being compliant, FileLINK offers automated sales and use tax solutions for businesses of all sizes. By focusing on tax technology, FileLINK has made it its mission to provide fast and straightforward tax filing to all companies.

It’s a multi-jurisdictional solution, which means businesses can file in all the states they operate in. Its many features include jurisdictional error alerts, transaction tracking address validation, and nexus alerts. Its monthly fillings and improvements suggestions ensure businesses are always compliant with the latest tax regulations.

Moreover, it features a flexible API for easy integrations with third-party software. FileLINK stands out as one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly TaxJar alternatives in the market because of its focus on technology and customer satisfaction.

FileLINK Pricing

Get a quote by contacting the sales team.

FileLINK Pros

• Multiple jurisdictional solutions 
• Transaction tracking and validation 
• Nexus alerts 
• Flexible API for easy integrations
• Detailed reporting and filing 
• Easy to use 

FileLINK Cons

• Users find the customer support unhelpful 
• No free trial 
• Pricing is not readily available online

Other TaxJar Alternatives to Consider

If the above seven solutions don’t quite fit your needs, here are a few more to consider:

1. Webgility 
2. Canopy
3. Sovos Taxify
4. TaxCalc
5. BlueJay Tax 
6. Green GST
7. Intuit ProSeries Tax 
8. TaxRaahi GST Software 

FAQs

Conclusion

The best TaxJar alternatives and competitors offer a comprehensive and user-friendly solution. Solutions like Avalara, TaxCloud, Vertex, Sovos, CCH SureTax, FileLINK, and Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE automate tax compliance for businesses of all sizes. 

While TaxJar is a great solution, I recommend using Avalara if you are looking for a more comprehensive and user-friendly tax solution. It also has some of the best customer services in the market alongside an extensive feature set.