Avalara is primarily used by organizations to automate sales tax processes, addressing complexities in compliance and reporting across multiple jurisdictions. In TrustRadius reviews, users frequently highlight its ability to accurately calculate sales tax on quotes and invoices, a function described as automatic and efficient. The platform also streamlines tax filing, including state sales tax returns, and manages 1099 forms through electronic handling, often integrating with existing accounting and business software.

Reviewers also value the platform's seamless integration and responsive support for error resolution. However, some concerns emerge regarding the state registration process, which reviewers found could be costly and lack coordination, sometimes requiring manual intervention. Its tax calculation logic also has limitations, such as reliance on billing addresses. Despite these areas for improvement, a significant majority of reviewers, 5 of 8, report substantial time savings and reduced operational costs from using Avalara.

Pros

Automated sales tax calculation on quotes and invoices
Streamlined 1099 e-filing (simple, secure, electronic delivery)
Efficient state sales tax filing and compliance
Seamless integration with existing accounting and quoting tools
Responsive communication and support for error resolution

Cons

Cost and speed issues with the state registration process
Lack of coordination between state registration and filing setup
Tax calculation logic limitations (e.g., billing address dependency)
Requires manual prompts for tax calculation within integrated quoting tools

From 8 reviews | Last Published May 26, 2026

Why it matters:

Avalara significantly reduces the time spent on tax compliance activities, with 5 of 8 reviewers specifically noting this benefit. Users report that the platform saves time by automating sales tax calculations, filing state returns, and generally simplifying the compliance process, thereby reducing manual oversight and effort.

“It is easy to use Avalara to calculate sales taxes for more precise and accurate tax collection, which saves our company oversight time and money.”

Why it matters:

Reviewers frequently highlight Avalara's core functionality in automating sales tax calculations, noting its ability to instantly provide accurate tax amounts for a high volume of daily transactions across various states. This automation is described as a key benefit, reducing manual effort and ensuring correct tax application on invoices and sales orders, as noted by 5 of 8 reviewers.

“Our company uses Avalara to calculate the sales tax on all of our quotes and invoices.”

Why it matters:

Avalara is widely used for its comprehensive tax filing and compliance services, which reviewers state significantly reduce the administrative burden on their organizations. Five of 8 reviewers specifically mentioned using the platform to record, process, and file monthly or annual sales tax returns across multiple states and even internationally, effectively taking the compliance load off their plate.

“Avalara retains all of our transaction information and we use Avalara to file all of our state sales tax returns.”

What positive or negative impact (i.e. Return on Investment or ROI) has Avalara had on your overall business objectives?

From 8 reviews | Last Published May 26, 2026

Summary

Avalara has demonstrated a positive impact on business objectives, primarily by streamlining tax compliance processes and reducing associated operational burdens. A significant majority of reviewers, 5 of 8, highlight substantial time savings through the platform's ability to automate calculations and state filings. This efficiency gain is closely linked to a reduction in operational costs, as noted by 3 of 8 reviewers, by minimizing the need for manual labor and external resources. The automation of tasks, also cited by 3 of 8 reviewers, further contributes to these benefits by simplifying data entry and e-filing. Additionally, Avalara helps improve the accuracy of tax collection and reduces the potential for errors and penalties, a benefit mentioned by 2 of 8 reviewers. Ultimately, these operational efficiencies allow businesses to reallocate resources and focus more intently on their core strategic activities, a sentiment echoed by 2 of 8 reviewers.

Top Quotes

Time Savings

“It is easy to use Avalara to calculate sales taxes for more precise and accurate tax collection, which saves our company oversight time and money.”

Cost Reduction

“The cost for using their system was comparable and even a little less than purchasing the materials and cost of mailing would have been.”

Automation of Tasks

“Automates data entry”

Besides Avalara, what other software do you regularly use? How likely would you be to recommend it to a friend or colleague?

From 8 reviews | Last Published May 26, 2026

Summary

Reviewers frequently utilize several software solutions in conjunction with Avalara, consistently expressing positive sentiment towards these tools. QuickBooks, identified in both its Online and Desktop Pro versions, is the most commonly mentioned software, cited by half of the reviewers (4 of 8). This indicates its widespread adoption among professionals who also use tax compliance software. Beyond accounting, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and content management systems (CMS) are also noted. NetSuite ERP is regularly used by a quarter of the reviewers (2 of 8), highlighting its role in broader business operations. Similarly, Salesforce CMS is also mentioned by 2 of 8 reviewers, suggesting its importance for managing digital content. The consistent positive sentiment across all mentioned software implies a high likelihood of recommendation, though specific reasons for recommendation are not detailed in the provided data for all tools.

Related topics

QuickBooks NetSuite ERP Salesforce CMS

Top Quotes

QuickBooks

“QuickBooks Online”

NetSuite ERP

“NetSuite ERP”

Salesforce CMS

“Salesforce CMS”

Describe how you use Avalara in your organization. What are the business problems the product addresses and what is the scope of your use case?

From 8 reviews | Last Published May 26, 2026

Summary

Organizations primarily leverage Avalara for its capabilities in automating sales tax processes, addressing the complexities of tax compliance and reporting. A significant portion of the sample, 5 of 8 reviewers, highlighted its utility in accurately calculating sales tax on quotes and invoices, often describing this function as automatic and efficient. Concurrently, 5 of 8 reviewers also noted Avalara's role in streamlining tax filing and compliance, including the preparation and submission of state sales tax returns in both the US and Canada. This functionality helps businesses manage the regulatory burden associated with multi-jurisdictional tax obligations. Furthermore, 4 of 8 reviewers found Avalara beneficial for managing 1099 and other contractor-related forms, simplifying what can be a labor-intensive annual process through electronic handling. The product's ability to integrate with various accounting and business software, cited by 3 of 8 reviewers, further enhances its value by providing a cohesive system for financial operations.

Top Quotes

Tax Calculation

“Our company uses Avalara to calculate the sales tax on all of our quotes and invoices.”

Tax Filing and Compliance

“Avalara retains all of our transaction information and we use Avalara to file all of our state sales tax returns.”

1099 and Contractor Forms

“Avalara was the perfect answer. Not only were they easy to use because of the simple upload of data, but they were more economical than purchasing the software or materials necessary to mail and file these forms.”

Please provide some detailed examples of areas where Avalara has room for improvement.

From 8 reviews | Last Published May 26, 2026

Summary

Analysis of customer feedback indicates that Avalara has specific areas for improvement, primarily concerning the efficiency and integration of its state registration and tax calculation processes. A notable concern, raised by three of eight reviewers, centers on the State Registration and Filing Process, where users reported issues with cost, speed, and a lack of coordination between registration and filing setup. This often necessitates manual intervention despite Avalara's services. Additionally, two of eight reviewers highlighted limitations in Avalara's Tax Calculation Logic, particularly regarding its ability to calculate tax based solely on billing addresses and the need for manual prompts within integrated quoting tools. These points suggest opportunities for Avalara to enhance user experience through process streamlining and more flexible, automated tax calculation functionalities.

Top Quotes

State Registration and Filing Process

“Avalara's State Registrations option is pretty expensive and should be quicker and cheaper”

Tax Calculation Logic

“Avalara should be able to calculate tax on the billing address only and not require the billing and shipping addresses to be the same.”

Please provide some detailed examples of things that Avalara does particularly well.

From 8 reviews | Last Published May 26, 2026

Summary

Reviewers consistently highlight Avalara's effectiveness in streamlining tax-related processes, particularly its automated tax calculation and 1099 e-filing capabilities. Three of eight reviewers commend the seamless integration of tax calculation into existing accounting and quoting tools, simplifying invoice creation and quote generation. Similarly, the platform's 1099 e-filing functionality is praised by three reviewers for its simplicity, security, and electronic delivery options. The overall ease of use of the software, including straightforward templates for uploading contractor information, is also a significant positive, noted by three reviewers as contributing to time savings through streamlined setup and filing. Furthermore, communication and support are frequently cited as strengths by three reviewers, who appreciate clear guidance on error resolution and responsive assistance. The system's proactive error checking and detailed communication regarding how to address issues are specifically valued by two reviewers, ensuring a smoother filing experience.

Top Quotes

Tax Calculation

“Tax Calculation”

1099 e-filing

“Simple e-filing of information on IRS approved forms”

Ease of Use

“Ease of Software”

View All Reviews

Avalara Reviews

460 Reviews

Seamless Tax Calculations with a click of a button

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

June 25, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Avalara to calculate tax on our invoices and sales orders. Avalara integrates with Chargebee and Sage Intacct, our accounting software, and also with Expedite Commerce, which is our quoting tool. When creating an invoice to send to a customer, the tax will automatically be calculated. The only issues we have encountered is when a customer has a different mailing address from the shipping address. Avalara will not calculate the tax unless both addresses match.

Pros

Creating an invoice with our accounting software is seamless. Tax is automatically calculated on the invoice.
Calculating tax on our quoting tool only requires you to select a button that says "calculate tax." Once the tax has been calculated, you can create the quote.
The only requirement is that the customer is marked as taxable, and then Avalara will automatically calculate the tax.

Cons

Avalara should be able to calculate tax on the billing address only and not require the billing and shipping addresses to be the same.
It would be helpful if Avalara automatically calculated tax in Expedite Commerce, our quoting tool, without having to select "calculate tax."

Likelihood to Recommend

Avalara assists in adding the calculated tax on all US territories without the need for any manual checking or calculations. It takes out the guesswork. Most users of the software rely on the program being accurate without the need for a follow-up. We have seen areas where tax calculated from the quoting tool and accounting software have differed, but in most cases, it's completely accurate.

Verified User

Administrator in Finance and Accounting (51-200 employees)

Vetted Review

4 years of experience

Avalara Makes 1099 Filing Simple for Small Business OwnersA Must-Have

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

June 25, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

As a small business owner, I used to dread 1099 season, sorting through paper forms and dealing with tedious manual filings. Since switching to Avalara, the process has become so much easier—everything is handled electronically, no more paperwork, and tax reporting is far less stressful.

Pros

Eliminates paperwork
Secure filing and electronic delivery for 1099s
Checks for errors
Streamlines setup and filing, saving time

Cons

Avalara detects 1099 errors, but users may need to log in to track and fix them

Likelihood to Recommend

As a small business owner, Avalara has been a game-changer for managing 1099s. It’s perfect for handling filings for my clients, automating the process and cutting down on paperwork.

Verified User

Professional in Finance and Accounting (1-10 employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

Avalara is great for monthly taxes.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Incentivized

June 24, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Avalara to record and file monthly tax/GST returns in the US and Canada. Avalara integrates with Net Suite and each month codes and processes tax returns for over 30 states in the US.

Pros

Track Monthly Revenue
Calculate Monthly taxes due
Track by State tax liabilities

Cons

Quantifying if States require monthly or quarterly taxes
Integrating credits when invoiced from Net Suite
FX calculations to show the USD impact

Likelihood to Recommend

Avalara does a great job integrating with Net Suite and other ERP systems. This avoids having to keep track of all 50 States compliance rules.

Verified User

C-Level Executive in Finance and Accounting (501-1000 employees)

Vetted Review

3 years of experience

Avalara Is Great At Calcuation And Filing Gets A Bit Iffy Outside Of That

Rating: 8 out of 10

Incentivized

June 18, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Our company uses Avalara to calculate the sales tax on all of our quotes and invoices. Avalara retains all of our transaction information and we use Avalara to file all of our state sales tax returns. This helps keep things streamlined and avoids mistakes, as all of our data is in one place. We use Avalara to take the compliance load of the tax setup and calculation and all of the tax filings off of our company's plate. When done manually this was very time and labor consuming.

Pros

Tax Calculation
Tax Filing
Retaining Transactions

Cons

Avalara's State Registrations option is pretty expensive and should be quicker and cheaper
Avalara's State Filing Setup is not coordinated with their State Registrations, so you still have to set up manually what they just registered for you.
Even if Avalara has all of your data, they won't set up a state filing if you miss a deadline of the 20th of the current month they won't file that month, even though they have all of the transactions. (This could happen when a new state is selected for tax calculation but the state registration hasn't been completed yet.) They should allow you to set up the returns by the first of the month it is filed in at the least.
Avalara's extractor is very base and limited; it can't extract multiple lines into Avalara, it takes an entire invoice and inputs it as one line. We were told after frequent calls that it works that way by design. Those out there who file returns on a regular basis can identify the problem with this scenario and why this won't work for tax filing.

Likelihood to Recommend

I find Avalara to work very well if you are using a software system that is integrated with Avalara, and it is set up to calculate the tax and file the returns. It is very streamlined and efficient. It doesn't work as well if the tax is calculated elsewhere and you have Avalara filing your returns; the options for getting the tax info into Avalara are very limited.

Tammy Kerr

Controller in Finance and Accounting at Sunset Technologies (51-200 employees)

Vetted Review

12 years of experience

User friendly tax software

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

June 18, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We primarily use Avalara for our tax calculation software. Avalara quickly provides tax amounts for thousands of transactions daily in all 50 states.

Pros

Customizable reports.
Quick tax calcs.
Support is friendly & quick to respond.

Cons

Notification of tax rate changes or law changes.

Likelihood to Recommend

One of the biggest benefits we’ve experienced is Avalara’s accuracy and automation. The real-time tax rate calculation feature has saved us countless hours and minimized the risk of errors. It’s clear that Avalara understands the challenges of tax compliance and has built a solution that truly simplifies the process.

Verified User

Team Lead in Finance and Accounting (1001-5000 employees)

Vetted Review

10 years of experience

An Alavara Fan

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

June 13, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

As the volunteer bookkeeper for our congregation, HR tasks fall to me, including tracking payments to the many contractor musicians we use throughout the year. 2024 was the first year we used enough of them that I could no longer file a paper 1099NEC so needed to find an online solution. Avalara was the perfect answer. Not only were they easy to use because of the simple upload of data, but they were more economical than purchasing the software or materials necessary to mail and file these forms. I could not have been more pleased with the results and ease with which this annual task was completed. So happy I found them!

Pros

Simple temple for uploading contractor information
Simple printing of 1099NEC forms for distribution
Simple e-filing of information on IRS approved forms
Great communication of errors, how to resolve them, and progress through the end of the filing process.
Great value for the cost.

Cons

I have no suggestions for improvement. Everything worked as promised.

Likelihood to Recommend

As a non-profit that relies on volunteers, having a system that is easy to use and cost effective is crucial. Alavara fit both of those needs for us. Also, since this is a task that is completed only once a year, it needs to be simple to use, which Alavara is. And lastly, since the IRS rules are often complicated and change regularly, it is helpful to have a vendor that stays current with the changes and incorporates them into the process which Alavara does.

Adam Krueger

retired in Information Technology at Mount Olive Lutheran Church (1-10 employees)

Vetted Review

1 year of experience

View profile

The Best Decision

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

June 13, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Avalara to email W-9, W-4, W-8BEN, and W-8BEN-E requests to our vendors and independent contractors. Then, Avalara makes it easy to issue 1099s and W-2s for filing. Avalara eliminates the need to track people down for forms, file forms, and keep paper records.

Pros

1099 e-filing
W-9, W-4, W-8BEN, and W-8BEN-E requests

Cons

I'd love for them to expand into state forms

Likelihood to Recommend

Anyone who has to file more than one 1099 should use Avalara

Verified User

C-Level Executive (1-10 employees)

Vetted Review

3 years of experience

Great Product for 1099 Processing

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

June 13, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I prepare 1099's for clients in January of each year. Avalara assists me in the process by providing software that is compatible with QBO.

Pros

Ease of Software
Integration to QBO
Communication

Likelihood to Recommend

Avalara is well suited to the clients who do not pay their contractors via QBO. For those clients who are paying contractors directly from QBO or Gusto, it is better to use the 1099 service through them.

Kandi Johnson

Owner in Finance and Accounting at A-OK Bookkeeping Services (1-10 employees)

Vetted Review

5 years of experience

View profile

Great Product!

Rating: 8 out of 10

Incentivized

March 17, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Avalara's product AvaTax for all of our sales transactions. We have it integrated with our online webstore and our accounting system. We use this daily and very heavily at month-end, quarter-end, and year-end for filing our sales tax with multiple different states.

Pros

Automating the sales tax calculation
Staying updated with changing rates
Providing helpful tools

Cons

Better customization of the product
Allowing for a history or audit trail view of user activity
Better reports

Likelihood to Recommend

Avalara is well suited for calculating sales tax on all our sales transactions. We don't have to worry if we are taxing at the correct rate, or jurisdiction as AvaTax has that all up to date. We looked into using AvaTax for filing our returns for us but with small issues between our accounting system and AvaTax it was not going to work out. I wish these issues could be resolved because automating the sales tax returns would be great!

Verified User

Employee in Finance and Accounting (11-50 employees)

Vetted Review

11 years of experience

Worthy Investment for Sales Tax

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

January 22, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Avalara for sales tax calculation, collection, and reporting. Avalara's technology aids in the accurate calculation of sales taxes for all applicable taxing jurisdictions, as well as reporting these taxes to the appropriate jurisdictions. The Avalara generated reports also serve as an audit trail for us as well.

Pros

Sales tax calculation at the jurisdiction level
Sales tax return filing
SKU to tax code mapping

Cons

Customer Service - could be a little more prompt
Website can be faster - it takes a bit of time to load all the transactions, especially during the first 4-5 days of the month

Likelihood to Recommend

Avalara is well suited any retailer that has sales in multiple states. It aides in accurately calculating sales taxes at all jurisdiction levels, taking into account exemptions, lower tax rates for grocery items, and sales tax holidays. Avalara keeps track of all sales generated in a specific period and then files sales tax returns in the necessary states.
It may not be well suited for manufacturers/wholesalers that only produce goods for resale or retailers that do not sell goods and services in more than one location.

Verified User

Manager in Finance and Accounting (1001-5000 employees)

Vetted Review

3 years of experience

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Avalara Is Great At Calcuation And Filing Gets A Bit Iffy Outside Of That

Rating: 8 out of 10

Incentivized

June 18, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Pros

Tax Calculation
Tax Filing
Retaining Transactions

Cons

Avalara's State Registrations option is pretty expensive and should be quicker and cheaper
Avalara's State Filing Setup is not coordinated with their State Registrations, so you still have to set up manually what they just registered for you.
Even if Avalara has all of your data, they won't set up a state filing if you miss a deadline of the 20th of the current month they won't file that month, even though they have all of the transactions. (This could happen when a new state is selected for tax calculation but the state registration hasn't been completed yet.) They should allow you to set up the returns by the first of the month it is filed in at the least.
Avalara's extractor is very base and limited; it can't extract multiple lines into Avalara, it takes an entire invoice and inputs it as one line. We were told after frequent calls that it works that way by design. Those out there who file returns on a regular basis can identify the problem with this scenario and why this won't work for tax filing.

Likelihood to Recommend

Tammy Kerr

Controller in Finance and Accounting at Sunset Technologies (51-200 employees)

Vetted Review

12 years of experience