Freedom251 › Tax Compliance Software
Avalara CertCapture
What Avalara CertCapture is
Avalara CertCapture, also called Exemption Certificate Management, centralizes collection, validation, storage, and renewal of tax exemption documents. It supports sales tax exemption, resale, Streamlined Sales Tax, manufacturer, agricultural, and energy certificates. OCR and AI tools check certificates during collection, while expiration tracking can trigger renewal requests and follow-ups for missing or invalid documents. The system flags certificate issues and provides audit-oriented reporting. Avalara describes a cloud database serving multiple locations, with integrations for ERP, ecommerce, procurement, and POS systems such as NetSuite, SAP, Microsoft, Oracle, Sage, QuickBooks, Shopify, BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce, and WooCommerce. A REST API supports bulk intake, customer synchronization, and certificate-status queries. ECM can connect with AvaTax and Avalara Returns; Pro and Premium can also work alongside another tax engine. It does not calculate sales tax, register businesses, or file returns. Pricing is on request, and no free plan is offered.
Who it suits
It suits businesses managing exemption certificates across locations, especially those needing automated validation, renewals, reporting, or API integrations. Essentials is described for fewer than 1,000 tax-exempt customers, while Premium targets complex, multi-location needs.
What it does well
- Centralized certificate database
- OCR and AI validation tools
- Automated renewal requests
- REST API for bulk certificate workflows
- Integrates with named ERP and commerce platforms
What to know first
- No tax calculation or return filing
- No tax registration support
- Paid pricing requires a request
- No free plan
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Exemption Certificate Management Pro | Unlimited certificate images · Automated renewals · Automated validation | On request |
| Exemption Certificate Management Essentials | Up to 1,000 certificate images · Single renewal requests | On request |
| Exemption Certificate Management Premium | Unlimited certificate images · Advanced controls · Multientity operations | On request |
As avalara.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
CertCapture focuses on exemption-certificate administration rather than complete tax compliance. Its validation, renewal, reporting, and integration options address document workflows, while calculation and filing require connected products or another engine.
Facts from Avalara CertCapture's own pages
- API
- A REST API and developer tools support custom integrations, including bulk certificate intake, customer synchronization, and certificate status queries. · avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
- API access
- Yes · avalara.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Audit readiness
- It flags expired, invalid, or missing certificates and supports audit-ready reporting. · avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Company
- Avalara states that co-founder Scott McFarlane founded the company in 2004; its careers page identifies Durham, North Carolina as its North American headquarters. · avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Customer fit
- Avalara says Essentials may suit businesses with fewer than 1,000 tax-exempt customers and straightforward tax scenarios, while Premium may suit organizations with multiple locations or more complex customization needs. · avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Filing support level
- none · avalara.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2004 · avalara.com, 19 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- No · avalara.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Seattle, Washington, United States · avalara.com, 19 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Avalara says ECM integrates with ERP, ecommerce, procurement, and POS platforms, and names NetSuite, SAP, Microsoft, Oracle, Sage, QuickBooks, Shopify, BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce, and WooCommerce. · avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Platform
- Avalara describes ECM as a cloud-based solution with a centralized database for storing and managing certificates across multiple locations. · avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Avalara Exemption Certificate Management, also known as CertCapture, helps businesses collect, validate, and store exemption certificates in one place. · developer.avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Renewals
- It tracks certificate expiration and can send automated requests to customers for renewals or missing and invalid certificates. · avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Return filing
- No · avalara.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Sales tax calculation
- No · avalara.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Security
- Avalara's trust center lists Exemption Certificate Management as individually attested under SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 and certified to ISO 27001. · trust.avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Avalara offers Managed Services for ECM, which can handle day-to-day certificate validation, outreach, and exception handling. · avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported tax types
- sales tax exemption; resale certificates; Streamlined Sales Tax certificates; manufacturer exemptions; agricultural exemptions; energy exemptions · avalara.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Tax registration
- No · avalara.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Tax workflow
- ECM connects to AvaTax for tax determination and Avalara Returns for filing, and Pro and Premium can also operate as standalone products alongside a third-party tax engine. · avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Validation
- The product uses OCR and AI validation tools to check certificates when they are collected. · avalara.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Avalara CertCapture stands on Freedom251
- Tax Compliance Software#81 of 105