--- title: "Connecting TaxCloud to Shopify" description: "Connect TaxCloud to Shopify to automatically import orders, track sales collected in each taxing jurisdiction, and simplify the filing process." canonical_url: "https://support.taxcloud.com/articles/connecting-taxcloud-to-shopify-pZg8KbgM7S" md_url: "https://support.taxcloud.com/articles/connecting-taxcloud-to-shopify-pZg8KbgM7S.md" --- # Connecting TaxCloud to Shopify Connect TaxCloud to Shopify to automatically import orders, track sales collected in each taxing jurisdiction, and simplify the filing process. # How the Integration Works The TaxCloud integration for Shopify works in conjunction with Shopify's sales tax engine: * Shopify calculates sales tax for orders. * TaxCloud imports orders from Shopify for reporting, nexus tracking, and filing. # Shopify Tax Services Shopify has its own built-in sales tax collection engine, with multiple [tax services](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/taxes/shopify-tax/choose-tax-service) to choose from. Select and configure a tax service that is supported by TaxCloud and best fits your needs: | **Shopify Tax Service** | **TaxCloud Integration Support** | |:---:|:---:| | Shopify Tax without **[automated filing](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/taxes/shopify-tax/automated-filing)** | Recommended (most accurate) | | Basic Tax | Supported | | Manual Tax Settings | Not recommended (high potential for errors) | | Shopify Tax with **[automated filing](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/taxes/shopify-tax/automated-filing)** | Not supported | :::tip **Using Third-party Tax Calculator alongside TaxCloud** If you are currently using a third-party tax calculation service such as AvaTax for your Shopify store, you can still use TaxCloud for order import and filing purposes. ::: # Before you begin ## Set up TaxCloud Make sure you have a TaxCloud account and can sign in. If you don’t have an existing TaxCloud account, [sign up now](https://app.taxcloud.com/register). If you have a previous version of the TaxCloud app for Shopify installed, [uninstall it first](https://support.taxcloud.com/en-us/articles/updating-to-taxclouds-new-shopify-app-june-2024-ADpGcrRCNA). ## Confirm basic Shopify requirements The Shopify store must be **based in the United States** for the integration to connect. The user completing the installation/authorization must have **Admin** permissions in Shopify. ### Verify Product Categorization in Shopify Shopify and TaxCloud both use the category information on your Shopify products to help determine the appropriate tax rates. Knowing what the product is helps determine if there are any special exemptions or rates to apply. To ensure tax calculations are correct, review your product catalog to confirm that the selected **Categories** are accurate. ![](https://support.taxcloud.com/api/attachments.redirect?id=9833e8af-719e-4928-aaa8-4a8e9ce20f25) :::warning **Note:** You must have Shopify product categories selected for all of your products. TaxCloud uses these categories to map your TICs and calculate the correct tax on our end, even if you are not using TaxCloud for calculations at the time. It controls taxability, exemptions, and special rates. Your third-party configuration uses its own tax codes; as a result, skipping this step can result in incorrect tax mapping on TaxCloud’s side. ::: ### Confirm 'Charge tax on this product' is checked Every Shopify product has a **Charge tax on this product** checkbox in the **Price** section of the product page. This is a base Shopify field , and it sits upstream of both the tax engine and TaxCloud: * **Checked** — Shopify treats the line as taxable and hands it to the tax engine to rate. * **Unchecked** — Shopify zeroes tax on that line before any engine is consulted, regardless of your collection states or the product's category. ![Charge Tax on Product](https://support.taxcloud.com/api/attachments.redirect?id=d335e446-8017-4934-a884-940e9154918b "Charge Tax on Product") Because the box gates tax before TaxCloud ever sees the line, unchecking it on a taxable product creates a costly mismatch: Shopify collects nothing, but TaxCloud still files the sale as taxable based on its TIC. The result is under-collection that you absorb at filing time. :::tip It is important you confirm that this box is checked for all your taxable products. It is checked by default on new Shopify products, so it is easy to overlook. Spot-check older products, imported catalogs, or anything created before you standardized your tax setup. ::: # Step 1: Complete TaxCloud setup Your TaxCloud account must be set up so that the integration with Shopify works correctly. 1. Sign into [TaxCloud](https://app.taxcloud.com/). 2. [Complete your TaxCloud Business Profile](/articles/video-how-to-complete-your-taxcloud-business-profile-GY9sSwsrGU). 3. [Set up your locations and states](/articles/how-to-set-up-a-location-and-state-0WpiODyFaj). If you set up TaxCloud through assisted onboarding, your nexus assessment should be complete and your collection states configured. You'll mirror those states into Shopify in the next step. # Step 2: Configure Shopify tax settings Shopify and TaxCloud each maintain their list of states where collection is enabled, and the two lists must match. Every state enabled in TaxCloud must also be enabled in Shopify and vice versa. TaxCloud recalculates tax when an order is captured, so a mismatch means you will either collect tax you can not remit or under-collect and have to absorb the difference. This article assumes your TaxCloud collection states are already correct, typically because you completed your nexus assessment during your TaxCloud onboarding. With TaxCloud as your source of truth, mirror those states into Shopify. :::info **If you have been using TaxCloud and Shopify independently** and are not sure which list is correct, see **[Keeping your TaxCloud and Shopify collection states in sync](https://support.taxcloud.com/en-us/articles/keeping-your-taxcloud-and-shopify-collection-states-in-sync-2Bj4UprB3Q)** before you continue. ::: 1. In TaxCloud, open your [threshold page](https://app.taxcloud.com/go/thresholds) and note the states where you collect sales tax. ![](https://support.taxcloud.com/api/attachments.redirect?id=189d3aba-e7f4-4599-b1e8-de21871c7932) 2. In Shopify, [add each of those states under](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/taxes/us/us-tax-manage#manage-the-regions-in-which-youre-registered) **[Settings > Taxes and duties](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/taxes/us/us-tax-manage#manage-the-regions-in-which-youre-registered)**. 3. Decline any prompt to enable Shopify automated filing if TaxCloud handles your filings. Your collection footprint changes over time. See **[Keeping your TaxCloud and Shopify collection states in sync](https://support.taxcloud.com/en-us/articles/keeping-your-taxcloud-and-shopify-collection-states-in-sync-2Bj4UprB3Q)** for guidance on keeping your lists in sync. # Step 3: Add the Shopify integration to TaxCloud You must be logged into your **Shopify account** as an Admin user to successfully connect to TaxCloud. 1. From the TaxCloud app, go to the [Integrations](https://app.taxcloud.com/go/integrations) page. 2. Click **Connect**. 3. Click **Shopify** in the integrations list. ![](https://support.taxcloud.com/api/attachments.redirect?id=5d27bbbc-612e-4f15-abb1-3377c09f1479) 4. Click **Connect**. The TaxCloud app listing opens in the Shopify app store. 5. Click **Install**. ![](https://support.taxcloud.com/api/attachments.redirect?id=81e99ef9-88d6-4ae5-b167-01b48d4e05af) 6. Sign into your Shopify account. 7. Click **Install** to confirm that you want to install the TaxCloud app in your Shopify account. ![](https://support.taxcloud.com/api/attachments.redirect?id=ac125bd7-c45e-4264-ac3f-e1d7defd652f) A Shopify integration is automatically added to your TaxCloud account. # Step 4: Confirm your configurations and Go Live When you are ready to start capturing real transactions, open your new Shopify connection and click the green **Go Live** button (top-right corner of your Integration Details page). ![Go live](https://support.taxcloud.com/api/attachments.redirect?id=def36e42-72c0-4ec8-b085-36544d855be0 "Go live") The **Go Live** window opens where you set your **Order Capture** and **Historical Order Import** options and confirm your set up before the connection switches from Test to Live mode. ![Go Live modal](https://support.taxcloud.com/api/attachments.redirect?id=5ca173fb-12dc-4055-8d6e-91b4c1d13c77 "Go Live modal") Work through the three sections below, then confirm: ## Step 4a: **Configure your order capture option** In the **Order Capture** section, use the **Capture order when** dropdown to choose when TaxCloud captures an order: * **Order Created** (recommended) — aligns TaxCloud reporting with Shopify, since both report based on when the order was placed. * **Order Fulfilled** — use if you prefer reporting to align to fulfillment timing. * **Order Paid** — use if you prefer reporting to align to when payment is confirmed. ## **Step 4b: Set up Historical Order Import** If you were selling on Shopify before connecting TaxCloud, use the **Historical Order Import** section of the same window to backfill those earlier orders. This is optional but recommended, since it saves you from requesting manual backfills from support later. No backfill runs until you go live. Turn on either option and set the date to import from: * **Import orders for tax filings** — imports past orders from the date you choose so they appear in your TaxCloud reports. Imported orders are stored in TaxCloud, but past returns aren't re-filed automatically. **[Contact support](https://support.taxcloud.com/en-us/articles/how-to-contact-taxcloud-2kOI9DHHRK)** if you need filings for those prior periods. * **Import orders for nexus only** — imports past orders from the date you choose so they count toward your economic nexus (threshold) tracking, without adding them to your tax filings. Defaults to January 1 of the prior year. :::warning **Order Capture and Historical Orders settings** These settings lock once the connection is live to prevent data discrepancies, so set them carefully. Going live is one-way and cannot be reversed. To change them, **contact support** from your integrations page. ::: ## Step 4c: Set the integration live In the **Confirmations** section, tick every box. The **Go Live** button stays disabled until all are checked: * I have verified that **[TaxCloud is configured to collect](https://support.taxcloud.com/en-us/articles/how-to-enable-disable-tax-collection-in-a-state-kP6ZCdvuNS)** in the jurisdictions where I have nexus obligations and that the collection start dates are correct. * I understand these settings can't be changed once live. * I understand this connection cannot be switched back to test mode. Click **Go Live** to confirm. ![](https://support.taxcloud.com/api/attachments.redirect?id=405abafd-b794-4f11-8be1-78bf1292d7da) After this point, Shopify transactions are included in your reporting and tax remittance. :::info Don't be alarmed if you see no transaction data upon initially going live with your Shopify integration; [order imports](https://support.taxcloud.com/en-us/articles/shopify-order-import-in-taxcloud-R6S0mGvzQh) begin on the next hourly run after you set up the integration. ::: # Step 5: Set up exempt customers If you have customers who are exempt from sales tax—such as resellers or nonprofit organizations—you'll need take steps to ensure they're not charged tax when checking out in Shopify using the TaxCloud integration. See [How to Mark Customers Tax Exempt in Shopify](/articles/how-to-mark-customers-tax-exempt-in-shopify-tUT8SC5M3P) for details. # Troubleshooting ## Shopify integration won’t connect (no error shown) Use this section if the Shopify installation flow completes (or stalls) but the integration does not appear connected and no error message is shown. ### Likely causes 1. **The Shopify store is not US-based** — The Shopify store must be based in the United States for the integration to connect. 2. **The installer is not a Shopify Admin** — The user installing/authorizing the integration must have **Admin** permissions on the Shopify account. 3. **The store is already connected to another (older) TaxCloud account** — If the same Shopify store was previously connected to an older TaxCloud account and that connection was not deactivated, the store may not connect to the new account and may fail silently. ### Resolution steps 1. **Confirm the Shopify store is US-based** — Verify the store’s configured country/region in Shopify. 2. **Verify the user role is Admin** — Ensure the person completing the installation has **Admin** access in Shopify. 3. **Check for a prior TaxCloud connection** — Determine whether the Shopify store was previously connected to another TaxCloud account. If it was, **deactivate/disconnect the old integration** before attempting to connect the store to the new account. ## If Shopify orders are missing from reports after connecting * Check whether the **origin address** is missing on the order(s) in Shopify. * For orders with an origin address outside the United States, the integration overrides the origin to a predefined U.S. fallback address (Montana) so that no U.S. sales tax is applied. The hard-coded fallback origin address is: **125 N Roberts St, Helena, MT 59601**. * If the origin address is missing: 1. Re-enter the origin address in Shopify. 2. Contact Support to have the order re-imported.