Last updated: 2026-07-28

US sales tax helpers

Facilitation is live. Abkus Travel estimates sales tax on guest-facing bookings with Abkus default — without locking you into a single tax vendor. Booking screens show Subtotal, Est. sales tax, and Total.

Subscriber shortcut (most hosts)

  1. Keep Abkus-managed default in Settings — estimates apply automatically on US bookings.
  2. Keep property addresses accurate (lodging uses the stay location) and Client ZIP/state when known.
  3. Only if you already pay for a tax engine: paste HTTPS base URL + token under Own mode. That is the only subscriber action required for BYO.

1. Choose your path

Open Settings → US sales tax. Pick Abkus-managed default (ZIP→state averages / optional platform API) or Your own sales-tax API (HTTPS base URL + token). Subscription never forces a vendor.

Own API contract

Travel calls GET {baseUrl}/rate?zip=&state= with Authorization: Bearer {token} and reads JSON ratePercent, combinedRate, or rate.

2. Module-aware place of supply (important)

Different managers use different jurisdictions. Categories classify where we look up a rate — they do not invent lodging occupancy %, car-rental surtaxes, or aviation fees.

Category Managers Jurisdiction used for estimates
LODGING Stays Manager Property address (stay location)
CAR_RENTAL Cars Fleet Manager Pickup / branch when set
TOUR_SERVICE / TRANSFER / FOOD Agency, tours, transfers, food Service site when known; else host fiscal country
CHARTER_AVIATION Flys Airline Manager Host fiscal country (sales-tax estimate only — not aviation excise)
CLEANING_SERVICE / MAINTENANCE_SERVICE Stay/Cars clean & maintenance, Flys MRO/ground Not auto-added to guest booking totals (ops / B2B)

3. Keep Client 360 complete

Fill ZIP, state, and country for exemptions and buyer fallback. Valid exemptions resolve to 0%.

4. What is stored on bookings

Guest bookings snapshot subtotalCents, taxCents, taxRateBps, taxSource, fiscalCategory, and place-of-supply fields. Amounts you enter on create forms are the subtotal; estimated tax is added server-side when applicable. Public quotes (/api/booking/quote) return the same tax-snapshot fields for lodging.

5. Accuracy notice

Built-in statewide averages are operational estimates — not legal advice and not a substitute for a certified tax engine or your CPA. Connect your own API for filing-grade accuracy.

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