Sales tax tools for SaaS and subscription businesses using Chargebee

Sales tax is notoriously complicated for SaaS brands operating in the US. Rates, rules, and taxability vary by state, and many states now treat subscriptions as taxable items. As companies grow and sell across state lines, it’s easy to trigger multi-state nexus obligations, making compliance a serious operational challenge.

While Chargebee helps automate subscription billing and revenue recognition, it doesn’t calculate or file sales tax. For accurate tax management, teams need a dedicated tax solution that can work alongside Chargebee to handle calculations, jurisdiction-level compliance, and any related filing responsibilities.

This guide takes a closer look at the top sales tax tools that work with Chargebee. We’ll break down how each tool integrates with Chargebee, what kind of compliance coverage it offers, and how it stacks up with competitors.

Let’s hop in.

Quick takeaways

• Chargebee is a great billing system for SaaS brands, but it doesn’t calculate or charge tax on its own.
• TaxCloud and other sales tax providers can integrate directly with Chargebee to provide accurate, real-time tax calculations.
• While tax calculations can be done manually as part of the invoicing process, an integration automates the process, reducing workloads while ensuring that taxes are applied correctly.

TaxCloud

Highlights

• Offers same Chargebee integration used by our own team
• SST support with free filings in 24 states
• Transparent, scalable pricing
• U.S.-based support and onboarding team

TaxCloud is a U.S.-focused sales tax platform built for e-commerce and SaaS brands. As a platform, TaxCloud handles real-time tax calculations in major online marketplaces, tracks nexus obligations across multiple states, and can even assist with filing automation across all 50 states. Unlike many global-first vendors, TaxCloud is focused solely on U.S. sales tax and jurisdiction-level accuracy.

One of the platform’s standout features is its support for the Streamlined Sales Tax program. This allows eligible sellers to file sales tax returns in up to 24 states at no cost. That’s a major advantage for SaaS brands expanding across the U.S. and can translate to thousands of dollars in annual savings.

TaxCloud also differentiates itself through pricing transparency and ease of implementation. There are no hidden fees or opaque enterprise tiers. The developer experience is streamlined with clear documentation and responsive support. For SaaS brands who need a Chargebee-compatible solution and aren’t worried about global tax compliance, TaxCloud is a strong alternative to more traditional platforms.

TaxCloud’s integration with Chargebee is also unique, because it’s in use every day by the TaxCloud team. Internally, Chargebee is our source of truth for all TaxCloud transactions, and using it alongside TaxCloud allows our brand to calculate and charge accurate tax alongside our transactions.

As our VP of Finance pointed out in a recent interview, our TaxCloud + Chargebee integration was able to help him “get back to spending more time on things that add value across the business.”

Because TaxCloud uses the same integration to manage our own billing and tax compliance, we’re our own customer. We have firsthand insight into how it performs in real-world SaaS workflows, and we’re always checking to make sure the integration is up to date.

Learn more about TaxCloud’s Chargebee integration.

Key details

• Real-time calculations for Chargebee. TaxCloud calculates sales tax at the time of invoice based on customer location and product type, so collection is always timely and accurate.
• A Certified Service Provider with the SST program, TaxCloud is one of only six brands that can provide no-cost filing across 24 member states. We also offer paid filing options for non-SST states.
• Scalable, transparent pricing ensures that customers pay for what they need as the business grows. Pricing includes a set number of transactions for order processing, while additional transactions can be purchased in bundles. Filing costs are calculated separately, based on the number of returns required.

Avalara

Highlights

• Common choice for enterprise and multi-channel brands
• Offers both global and U.S. tax support
• Full-service tax calculations and filing
• SST support with free filings in 24 states

A commonly used option, Avalara is a robust platform that has been widely adopted across e-commerce, SaaS, retail, and other industries. As a solution, the AvaTax platform is particularly well-suited to enterprise brands that need consistent, global compliance at scale.

Avalara also offers a native integration with Chargebee through the Chargebee Marketplace. Using this approach, Chargebee customers can take advantage of Avalara’s real-time sales tax calculations, product-level taxability rules, and end-to-end filing services. Similar to TaxCloud, Avalara is also a Certified Service Provider for the Streamlined Sales Tax program and can offer free filing across all 24 member states.

However, while the Avalara integration is feature-rich and offers SST filing options, those benefits come with some trade-offs. Pricing is often a custom affair, and it’s difficult to know exactly what you’re paying for without a sales call. While this might be a necessary process for large organizations with complex tax needs, smaller brands may find the high costs and the length of the requirement commitment far too overbearing.

Key details

• U.S. and international tax coverage. Brands operating outside the United States must also account for VAT, GST, and other tax calculations. Avalara supports tax configurations and compliance in Canada, Europe, and other global regions.
• Enterprise-grade feature set. Many of Avalara’s features are best suited for larger, complex organizations operating in multiple jurisdictions around the world. While smaller brands can also work with Avalara, some of the most useful features on offer may exceed budgetary limits.
• Custom pricing and long-term contracts. Avalara requires a sales conversation before a quote is issued, and most contracts require an annual commitment with predetermined costs.

Anrok

Highlights

• Built for SaaS companies
• Full-service tax calculations and filing
• Plan includes registrations for U.S. states and cities
• Support for VAT IDs and international transactions

Anrok is a modern sales tax platform originally designed for SaaS companies, although it expanded support to physical goods — specifically e-commerce and manufacturing — in early-2025. Anrok remains largely focused on digital-first tax compliance, with a specialized emphasis on subscription-based brands.

Similar to other options on our list, Anrok offers a Chargebee integration that can support real-time tax calculations, nexus tracking, and automated filing in U.S. jurisdictions. However, the platform also offers limited support for VAT transactions by partnering with third-party entities to handle international filings.

Anrok doesn’t list their pricing publicly. Instead, companies will need to go through sales processes to get a better understanding of total costs. Even so, Anrok is a newer brand (founded in 2020) and may be a more affordable alternative to solutions like Avalara or Vertex.

Key details

• Built for SaaS. Anrok is one of the only platforms specifically built for software-as-a-service business models. The platform is designed around recurring billing, SaaS taxability rules, and state-by-state nexus thresholds.
• International support uses third-party partners. While Anrok supports international returns, some portions of the filing process are handled by local partners in other regions rather than Anrok itself. This means that your data must be shared with external entities who facilitate these options.
• No SST participation means that, unlike with TaxCloud or Avalara, Anrok customers will need to pay more in order to submit state filings. While cost is hidden within plan pricing — which includes registration, filing, and remittance — it still drives up the overall price.

Vertex

Highlights

• Multi-product brand with many product options
• Global tax support favoring enterprise brands
• Deep customization options, but setup can be complex
• Broad selection of consultation and managed services

An established leader in tax compliance and technology, Vertex offers several distinct products on the Chargebee marketplace, including Vertex O Series, Vertex Validator, and Vertex Advantage (formerly Taxamo). These products are designed for different uses, but each shares Vertex’s focus on enterprise-grade tax automation and support.

The O Series platform is designed for highly complex tax environments, offering granular control over rates, rules, and compliance logic. Validator is an API-based solution designed to automate validation for business tax IDs. Advantage handles VAT filing and remittance for e-commerce brands.

Collectively, Vertex’s tools offer great coverage and support when dealing with tax compliance. However, of all the brands on our list, only Vertex increases complexity by offering three completely separate integrations. Vertex obfuscates its pricing and often requires multi-year commitments, making it difficult to determine total costs.

Particularly for smaller brands, the added complexity and hidden pricing may be a clear signal that the cost and overhead of this enterprise-focused solution outweighs its benefits.

Key details

• Multiple tools require multiple integrations. Chargebee offers support for O Series, Validator, and Advantage. Each solution offers different functionality and implementation options, requiring extra configuration within your CRM or ERP.
• Vertex’s size and support options make it a good fit for large-scale teams with internal tax, finance, and IT resources available to manage configurations and updates. Although more customizable, expect to spend more time maintaining the integration as a result.
• No SST participation means that, like Anrok, Vertex users will see increased costs when filing in the U.S. However, because Vertex conceals its pricing, it’s difficult to forecast total costs beyond estimates reported by former customers.

TaxJar

Highlights

• Popular with early-stage e-commerce and SaaS brands
• Transparent, volume-based pricing for core services
• Focused on U.S. tax calculation and filing
• Chargebee integration is a legacy solution

TaxJar was once the go-to choice for sales tax automation SaaS and e-commerce, especially for smaller brands who needed an affordable and easy-to-implement solution. However, since Stripe acquired the company in 2021, TaxJar has received minimal updates, and its future as a viable tax compliance product for Chargebee users is uncertain.

As a platform, TaxJar offers basic calculations and jurisdictional support for U.S. sales tax, but it lacks the deeper compliance automation found on newer platforms. Although pricing is clear, the plans simply don’t include much support around filing and remittance. TaxJar also doesn’t participate in the Streamlined Sales Tax program, and its filing features are limited when compared to other full-service providers on the market.

TaxJar still offers a functional Chargebee integration, but the integration is currently flagged as a legacy item within current Chargebee docs, where customers are recommended to look at other potential integration options instead.

Key details

• Limited updates since Stripe acquisition. Since Stripe purchased TaxJar in 2021, it’s been unclear how TaxJar will continue to develop their offering to support Chargebee users.
• No pricing control for bundled filing means that customers filing with TaxJar will need to pay separately for each filing once the limited number of Autofile credits included in a pricing plan have been used.
• No SST participation. Like many other brands on our list, TaxJar doesn’t participate in the Streamlined Sales Tax program. Companies will be on the hook for filing costs in all SST states, something that can be handled for free by other brands like TaxCloud or Avalara.

Kintsugi AI

Highlights

• Market newcomer focused around AI and tax compliance
• Transparent pricing built around filing and registration costs
• Primarily focused on U.S. tax calculation and filing
• Chargebee integration is flagged as a legacy solution

Founded in 2022, Kintsugi is a fast-growing startup focused around streamlining the entire tax compliance process. The platform leans heavily on AI and automation to handle its calculations and attempts to offer a plug-and-play, no-code solution with transparent pricing and no hidden fees.

Similar to other brands, Kintsugi is working to automate the entire sales tax lifecycle, from real-time nexus monitoring to registration, filing, and remittance. Using the Chargebee integration allows brands to extend those automation features to work done on the Chargebee platform. That, combined with added support for VAT and GST, make Kintsugi suitable for brands with both U.S. and international operations.

However, while Kintsugi aims for simplicity and distinguishes itself with AI-powered automation tools, costs can be high for SaaS companies and brands as they scale over time. Pricing is built around filing and follows a pay-as-you-go model, but the lack of bundled filing options and SST program participation means that those costs quickly add up.

Key details

• Simple implementation, but high monthly costs. Kintsugi charges $75 per filing or registration, compared with $39 per state or $599 of all states when filing with TaxCloud. At $75 per month across all 50 states, monthly filing costs will be $3,750 per month. While not as costly as Avalara or Vertex, it’s still expensive compared to other options on the market.
• No SST participation. Like other brands on our list, Kintsugi doesn’t participate in the SST program, which could potentially offset those filing costs. Customers will need to pay to file in any SST member state when working with Kintsugi.
• Support options are limited. Kintsugi claims that 24/7 support is available, but this is largely built around AI-based tools and automations. Human-powered support is much more limited, and getting help with difficult problems may take longer than expected.

What to look for in a Chargebee-compatible Sales Tax Tool

There’s no shortage of tax compliance tools that integrate with Chargebee, but choosing the right one depends on how much complexity, cost, and overhead your team is willing to manage.

Some solutions prioritize global reach and enterprise-grade solutions. Others lean heavily on integration and AI or bundle tax features into broader finance tools. A few, like TaxCloud, are focused on doing one thing well. In our case, that’s offering the great service and tax support that small- and medium-sized businesses really need.

If your business is scaling across the U.S., uses Chargebee, and you aren’t looking to overpay for features you won’t use, TaxCloud is worth a look. Our platform handles everything from real-time calculations and nexus monitoring to automated filing and remittance on a per-state basis. It’s even possible to eliminate filing fees in up to 24 states by using TaxCloud as your Certified Service Provider in the SST program.

Want to learn more? Sign up for a free 30-day trial with TaxCloud or speak with one of our product specialists for a personalized demo.

FAQs

Does Chargebee calculate sales tax?

No. Chargebee handles subscription billing and invoicing, but it doesn’t calculate or manage sales tax on its own.

Instead, brands will need a third party provider like the ones listed in this article to facilitate tax collection and filing.

What’s the cheapest way to file sales tax through Chargebee?

The most cost-effective option is to use a provider that offers low-cost filing options and participates in the Streamlined Sales Tax program.

Participating platforms (TaxCloud or Avalara) can file returns for free in 24 states, which can save companies thousands in filing fees each year.

For brands with internal teams, it might be possible to partner with Kintsugi using the free plan to handle sales tax calculations but then use the information gathered through the platform to file manually, thus avoiding any filing fees. However, while doing so would keep software costs low, it would drive up workloads and costs for the employees doing the work.

Can I use multiple tax providers with Chargebee?

Not really. Like most other brands, Chargebee’s workflows are designed to work with a single sales tax engine at a time. Teams will need to choose the provider that best aligns with their tax footprint and billing model.

That said, even if it were possible, using multiple tax engines can cause more problems than it solves. Brands taking this approach are also essentially paying twice for tax calculations, as most tax platforms require some kind of plan or payment when using their engine.

Does Chargebee support TaxJar?

Technically, yes. However, TaxJar’s integration hasn’t been updated in several years, and Chargebee states that future collaboration with TaxJar is uncertain.

For the best long-term support options, consider using an established solution like TaxCloud, Anrok, or Avalara.