Avalara, Inc. (NYSE: AVLR), a leading provider of cloud-based tax compliance automation for businesses of all sizes, today announced Avalara Managed Tax Category Classification, an artificial intelligence-based, self-service tool paired with assisted classification services to allow businesses to efficiently classify their products and services to tax categories — regardless of the size of their product catalogs. Avalara Managed Tax Category Classification will generate classification decisions and aid in state and local taxability determinations for businesses’ U.S. product catalogs.

“Today, the classification of product catalogs to correct tax codes can be an onerous and time-consuming process — especially for businesses with large catalogs,” said Kevin Permenter, research manager at IDC. “By applying AI and machine learning to the classification process, businesses stand to save time and money, while also improving the accuracy of their determinations.”

Classifying product catalogs is complex and time consuming

When businesses introduce a new product or service, it must be classified into the correct tax category. With more than 13,000 sales and use tax jurisdictions in the U.S. alone, and many having unique sets of rules for how products and services are taxed, accurately assigning taxability is challenging.

To determine product taxability, businesses must take into consideration details such as how an item is made, where it’s sold, how it’s delivered, and more for every jurisdiction. Because product and service catalogs and tax laws are continually changing, product classification and taxability determinations require year-round attention, staffing, and resources. Given the complex nature of product catalogs and tax laws, manual classification and determination could pose audit liability if done incorrectly, while also creating a strain on time, personnel, and financial resources for businesses.

Simplify your product classification with Avalara

Avalara Managed Tax Category Classification accelerates the classification process using machine learning. This enables businesses to:

• Improve the accuracy of tax calculations. Match products and services to the correct tax category, enabling more accurate tax rate determinations. Avalara Managed Tax Category Classification uses machine learning to provide up-to-date classifications that helps mitigate over- and undercharging tax, while leaving room to apply special considerations, like SNAP and WIC eligibility.
• Save time classifying products. Decrease the amount of time spent researching and making decisions on proper product classifications. Our deep product content database assists AI and machine learning algorithms and search functions to easily identify and classify products.
• Simplify product classifications to protect business margins. Accelerate time-to-market for new products with faster classification, and reduce the risk of penalties and audit with more accurate classification details regardless of the size and volume of product catalogs.

“As businesses expand in today’s omnichannel environment, they are continually adding new products to sell across numerous channels,” said Sanjay Parthasarathy, chief product officer at Avalara. “Our managed tax category classification product equips businesses with an automated solution that not only reduces the time spent classifying product catalogs of any size, but also improves the accuracy of tax determinations at the time of purchase.”

For additional information on Avalara Managed Tax Category Classification, please click here.

About Avalara

Avalara helps businesses of all sizes get tax compliance right. In partnership with leading ERP, accounting, ecommerce, and other financial management system providers, Avalara delivers cloud-based compliance solutions for various transaction taxes, including sales and use, VAT, GST, excise, communications, lodging, and other indirect tax types. Headquartered in Seattle, Avalara has offices across the U.S. and around the world in Brazil, Europe, and India. More information at avalara.com.

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