AvaTax Geolocalize
Automatic address validation and standardization for accurate tax calculation
AvaTax Geolocalize module integrates Avalara address validation service to ensure accurate shipping addresses, enabling correct location-based tax calculation and reducing delivery errors.
System automatically standardizes addresses to USPS format, determines accurate tax jurisdiction codes and alerts when addresses are invalid or incomplete.
Key Features
Key points
• Address Validation: Validate addresses with Avalara API
• Auto Standardization: Standardize addresses to USPS format
• Tax Jurisdiction: Determine accurate tax jurisdiction codes
• Geocoding: Convert addresses to GPS coordinates
• Invalid Detection: Detect invalid addresses
• Suggestion: Suggest correct addresses when errors found
Validation Process
Steps
1. Enter address: Input customer or shipping address
2. Auto validate: System sends address to Avalara
3. Receive result: Get validation result and standardized address
4. Review suggestions: View suggestions if address incorrect
5. Accept or edit: Accept standardized address or edit manually
6. Calculate tax: Calculate tax based on validated address
Validation Results
Address Status
| Status | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Valid | Address accurate and complete | Use immediately |
| Standardized | Address standardized | Review changes and accept |
| Ambiguous | Multiple matching addresses | Select correct address from list |
| Invalid | Address does not exist | Correct address |
Real-World Scenarios
Key points
• Online sales: Validate shipping addresses to avoid wrong delivery and calculate correct tax
• B2B sales: Standardize company addresses for system consistency
• Multi-state: Accurately determine state/county/city for complex tax calculation
Best Practices
Key points
• Enable auto-validation for all new addresses
• Review standardized addresses before saving
• Use suggestions when address is ambiguous
• Save validated addresses to avoid re-validation
• Check tax jurisdiction after validation
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Validation failed | Wrong API credentials | Check AvaTax configuration |
| Address not found | Address does not exist | Correct address per suggestion |
| Multiple matches | Address not detailed enough | Add apartment/suite number |
FAQ
Key points
• When to validate addresses? When creating or editing customer addresses, especially shipping addresses.
• Validate international addresses? Yes, but mainly for US, Canada and some EU countries.
• Validation cost? Included in AvaTax package, no separate charge.
• Must use standardized address? No, but recommended for accurate tax calculation.