What Does Avalara Do for Sales Tax Compliance?

There are over 13,000 sales tax jurisdictions in the US alone. Each one has its own rates, rules, and filing deadlines. For growing businesses, staying compliant across that many variables isn’t just hard—it’s nearly impossible without the right software.

One of the most recognized names in the sales tax software space is Avalara, known for automating the complex world of sales tax compliance. In this blog, we’ll break down what Avalara does, who it’s best suited for, how it compares to other options, and how The Sales Tax People can support your business no matter which software you use.

Who Is Avalara?

Avalara is a cloud-based tax compliance platform that helps automate sales and use tax calculations, filings, and remittances. They’ve been around for over two decades and are well known for working with large, high-volume businesses across the US and internationally.

From calculating tax rates at checkout to managing exemption certificates and submitting returns, Avalara is built to streamline what can otherwise be a highly manual, error-prone process.

Their strengths include the following:

• Real-time rate calculations based on location and product taxability
• Integrations with 1,200+ platforms like Shopify, NetSuite, QuickBooks, Salesforce, and more
• Automated return filing and payment remittance
• Support for global tax needs, including VAT and GST
• Scalability to accommodate rapid growth or high transaction volumes

Is Avalara the Right Fit for Every Business?

Not always—and that’s perfectly fine.

Avalara is best suited for the following:

• Enterprise businesses or those with complex, multijurisdictional requirements
• Companies needing deep integrations with existing software systems
• Teams looking to automate and scale tax compliance at a high level

But with that sophistication comes a learning curve. Avalara’s platform is powerful, but it can feel heavy for businesses without in-house tax expertise or the time to fine-tune the setup.

That’s where The Sales Tax People come in.

We Work with Avalara—and Any Other Software

At The Sales Tax People, we don’t compete with software: We enhance it. If you’re already using Avalara (or considering it), we can help ensure it’s doing exactly what it should.

We offer the following:

• Sales tax setup reviews to catch errors in nexus, product taxability, and rate configuration
• Support integrating Avalara into your ERP, ecommerce, or POS systems
• Ongoing compliance services, including managing your return filings through your Avalara account
• Liability cleanups and backfilling if things were missed before automation was added

Whether Avalara is your current solution or you’re still deciding, we’ll meet you where you are and guide you forward.

Considering Other Sales Tax Software?

Avalara is a major player—but it’s not your only option. Choosing the right sales tax software depends on your business size, tech stack, industry, and how much support you need.

As you compare tools, consider what matters most: Is it priced for your budget? Is it easy for your team to use? Will it integrate cleanly with your ERP, ecommerce platform, or accounting software? And when something breaks, will you have real support or just a help doc?

We’ve worked with all the top platforms and can help you sort through the options:

• Vertex: Enterprise-grade power for complex compliance environments
• TaxJar: Easy to use and ideal for ecommerce and smaller teams
• Sovos: Built for businesses managing multiple tax types across jurisdictions

Each platform brings different strengths to the table. The right fit depends on your operations, your risk tolerance, and how involved you want to be in day-to-day tax management.

Not sure what fits your business best? Check out our blog on sales tax software.

Our In-House Option: Ceretax

While we work with any sales tax software, we also offer our own in-house licensed tool: CereTax. Built for today’s compliance challenges, Ceretax is a next-gen, cloud-based platform that simplifies sales tax automation without sacrificing flexibility or expert support.

Ceretax is built for businesses that want the following:

• A streamlined, supported experience: Automate calculations, reporting, and filings—all in one place
• One point of contact for filings and strategy: Get personal support from setup to ongoing compliance
• Guidance from real experts—not just prompts: Access actual consultants to help solve real-world tax issues

With Ceretax and The Sales Tax People, you get streamlined automation backed by real people who understand the stakes.

Software Is Just a Tool—You Need a Guide

Avalara is a powerful solution. But it’s not a plug-and-play fix. If your data is messy, your nexus footprint is unclear, or your product taxability isn’t properly mapped, even the best software can steer you wrong. Software won’t ask follow-up questions, catch what’s missing, or help you weigh risk versus reality.

That’s why businesses turn to The Sales Tax People. We don’t just set up systems: We help you understand them. We clarify your obligations, identify what matters most, and stay with you every step of the way. Whether you’re using Avalara, TaxJar, CereTax, Sovos, or anything in between, we’ve got you covered. 

Book a free “What’s Next” call with a sales tax expert.

Discover peace of mind. Simplify your sales tax. Partner with The Sales Tax People.