How does BigCommerce handle sales tax natively?

BigCommerce includes reasonable native tax calculation, and on higher plans bundles an Avalara AvaTax integration, making it one of the more capable platforms out of the box.

Key takeaways

• Native tax engine: BigCommerce’s built-in provider calculates rates at checkout using the customer’s ship-to address; no plugin required for basic automated rate lookup
• Avalara AvaTax bundled: on higher-tier BigCommerce plans, Avalara AvaTax is included as an integrated provider; the integration is bundled but Avalara’s per-transaction fees apply separately
• Product tax classes: BigCommerce supports product tax codes and tax class assignments; sellers can map products to different tax classes (e.g., clothing, digital goods, reduced-rate items) to apply state-specific taxability rules
• Avalara vs. native engine: Avalara provides deeper product taxability coverage and more frequently updated rates than the native BigCommerce engine; for sellers with complex product catalogs, the Avalara integration is the better choice
• No filing or remittance: BigCommerce collects tax at checkout; it does not file state returns or remit collected tax to state revenue agencies; filing is the seller’s responsibility
• TaxCloud integration: TaxCloud can be connected to BigCommerce via API; third-party connector options exist; this is the path for sellers who want SST CSP certification and AutoFile in SST states
• Manual rate tables: BigCommerce also supports manual tax rules for sellers who prefer to manage rates themselves; not recommended for multi-state compliance due to maintenance burden