Sales Tax Automation with Stripe Tax for WHMCS

What will the sales tax module do?

It replaces fixed WHMCS tax rules with live calculation. When a client checks out or an invoice is created, the module sends the address, the amounts and each product's tax code to Stripe Tax and writes the returned tax onto the WHMCS cart and invoice. When the invoice is paid, the transaction is recorded with Stripe Tax for your reports, and a refund or credit note reverses it. Payment can come through any WHMCS gateway; Stripe Tax only does the tax.

This product is built to order: you get the license key at purchase and the download within 20 business days.

Why do hosting and software sellers need it?

In the United States, whether hosting, software or IT services are taxed depends on the state, and rates also differ by county and city. For example, Texas taxes "internet services", which its comptroller says includes creating web pages and providing server space, with 20% of the charge exempt. Washington taxes software as a service, and New York treats remote access to prewritten software as taxable. Once you register in a state, you have to charge the right rate for each address there.

What does WHMCS already do, and what does this add?

WHMCS applies tax rules you enter by country and state, with up to two tax levels and compound tax. It does not look up rates by street address, does not know which products a state taxes, and does not keep a record for filing. The module adds live calculation, a tax code per product, exemptions per client and a transaction record for each paid invoice and refund.

What is included?

Who is it for?

Hosting companies, SaaS and software sellers that bill US clients through WHMCS and are registered for sales tax in one or more states, or that sell to Canada or Australia.

What do you need, and what are the limits?

Requirements: WHMCS 8.13 or 9.x (I confirm your exact version at purchase), PHP 8.1 or newer, a Stripe account with Stripe Tax turned on, and your tax registrations added in Stripe. Stripe bills Stripe Tax usage to your Stripe account.

Limits: Stripe Tax only charges tax where you have added a registration, so deciding where you must register stays with you and your accountant. WHMCS shows tax as up to two lines on an invoice, so state, county and city amounts appear as one combined line, with the breakdown kept in the log. The module calculates and records tax; it does not file returns. It is not tax advice.

It costs $249 once for a lifetime license with twelve months of updates and support, the license key at purchase and the download within 20 business days, and a seven-day refund window.