AkuCalc vs OpenSalesTax

AkuCalc is an API product for calculating sales tax inside ERP, ecommerce, and billing workflows. It covers all US tax jurisdictions, including more than 13,000 jurisdictions, and supports Canada. Calculations use transaction addresses for rooftop-accurate results, while rates and rules update automatically as regulations change. Businesses can configure taxability by product, jurisdiction, and transaction type; complex or research-intensive mappings are scoped separately. A valid certificate stored in AkuCert is applied automatically as an exemption. The API connects custom ERP, ecommerce, billing, and other business systems, and featured integrations include Microsoft Dynamics 365, Business Central, Dynamics GP, Acumatica, Sage Intacct, QuickBooks, and NetSuite. Transaction data supports reporting, reconciliation, return preparation, and audit workflows. Clarus describes guided implementation covering configuration, integration setup, testing, and training, with timing depending on systems and data complexity. AkuCalc is aimed at finance, tax, controller, ERP, and growing-business teams. Pricing is on request through a custom quote.

OpenSalesTax is a free, self-hosted API that calculates sales tax for US transactions using public data and per-state modules. The project says its modules cover 52 jurisdictions, while each published data dump includes all 48 jurisdictions that impose sales tax. The API calculates tax on line items and can break results down by state, county, city, or district. Documented item categories include general goods, clothing, groceries, prescription drugs, prepared food, and digital goods. Its data comes from Streamlined Sales Tax files and state Department of Revenue publications, rather than paid tax feeds. The engine can be installed from source or run with Docker; PostgreSQL is the default, with optional MariaDB support. Access defaults to open with per-IP rate limiting, or can use API keys with per-key limits and usage tracking. Release dumps reflect the SST quarterly file current at release, and the project documents loading newer data. It identifies incomplete sub-state tax stacking for Colorado home-rule cities and Louisiana parish-level collectors. The project says its calculations are not legal or tax advice and advises checking results with the relevant state Department of Revenue before remitting.