Taxes

Set up tax zones to automatically calculate and collect sales tax from customers based on their location.

How Taxes Work

1. You create tax zones (groups of states with a tax rate)
2. When a customer checks out, the system checks the shipping address state
3. If that state is in an enabled tax zone, the zone’s rate is applied

Tax is calculated on the order subtotal plus shipping (including any FFL transfer shipping), minus any discount. If no enabled zone covers the state, no tax is charged.

Tax Zones

Viewing Your Zones

Go to Settings > Taxation to see all your tax zones.

Each zone shows:

• Zone name
• Tax rate
• States included
• Whether it’s enabled

Creating a Tax Zone

1. Go to Settings > Taxation
2. Click Add Tax Zone
3. Enter a Zone Name (e.g., “Texas Sales Tax”)
4. Enter the Tax Rate (%) (e.g., 8.25) — must be between 0 and 100
5. Select the States this rate applies to (at least one)
6. Click Create Zone

Editing a Tax Zone

1. Open the zone’s action menu (the ⋮ button on its row)
2. Click Edit
3. Update the name, rate, or states
4. Click Update Zone

Enabling/Disabling a Zone

You can turn zones on or off from the same action menu:

• Enabled - Tax is collected for orders to these states
• Disabled - No tax collected for these states

Deleting a Zone

1. Open the zone’s action menu
2. Click Delete
3. Confirm deletion

Understanding Tax Rates

What Rate to Use

Tax rates vary by state and sometimes by county or city. Use the rate for your business location or where you have nexus.

Common considerations:

• Your state’s sales tax rate
• Any local taxes that apply
• Special rates for certain products

Note: Consult with a tax professional for accurate rates. Tax laws are complex and vary by jurisdiction.

Example Setup

Using an Automated Tax Provider

FirearmCart supports two tax plugins: Avalara AvaTax and TaxJar.

Activating either one replaces manual tax zones. While a tax plugin is active, the Taxation page hides the Add Tax Zone button and shows a notice that the plugin is handling your tax compliance. Checkout sends the cart to the provider and uses the tax it returns instead of your zone rates.

Your existing tax zones aren’t deleted. They stay on file as a fallback: if a call to the tax provider fails at checkout, the order falls back to your zone rates so the customer isn’t blocked.

If you use Avalara AvaTax, see the Avalara AvaTax integration guide for setup, tax code mapping, customer exemption handling, and refund/void behavior.

Avalara can:

• Automatically calculate accurate rates
• Handle complex multi-jurisdiction taxes
• Stay updated with tax law changes
• Validate addresses and capture lat/long
• Manage exemption certificates and entity / use codes

Tax Nexus Basics

You must collect sales tax in states where you have “nexus” (a tax obligation).

When You Have Nexus

• States where you have a physical location
• States where you exceed sales thresholds (typically $100,000 or 200 transactions)

Important: Tax laws vary by state. Consult a tax professional to determine your specific obligations.

Common Questions

Do I need to collect tax in every state?

Only in states where you have nexus. This typically includes your home state and states where you exceed certain sales thresholds.

What about ammunition and firearms?

Tax laws for firearms and ammunition vary by state. Some states exempt certain items. Check with a tax professional for your specific situation.

Related Documentation

• Shipping - Configure shipping zones
• Checkout Settings - Configure checkout options
• Store Information - Business details