Overview
Sales tax entries are configured by state. Each entry uses one of three Tax Types: Automatic tax lookup, Flat Rate, or Custom Zip. You can use different Tax Types for different states on the same account.
Spiro displays the following disclaimer on the Sales Taxes page:
Spiro calculates tax based on your configuration. You are responsible for understanding your sales tax obligations in the states where you operate. Consult a tax professional if you are unsure.
When to use this
Choose a Tax Type for each state based on how precise you need the rate to be:
Automatic tax lookup — Spiro calculates the combined tax rate automatically based on the property's ZIP code, using an internal rate database that Spiro keeps up to date. Use this for accurate, ZIP-level rates without maintaining them yourself.
Flat Rate — Apply a single tax rate to every Order in that state. Use this when your state has one uniform rate.
Custom Zip — Set your own tax rate for specific ZIP codes within a state, with a fallback rate for any ZIP code you haven't listed. Use this for manual control over rates in specific areas.
How to add a tax entry
Navigate to Settings → Invoicing → Sales Taxes.
Click + Add state tax.
Select a Tax Type: Automatic tax lookup, Flat Rate, or Custom Zip.
Select the State.
Complete the fields for the selected Tax Type:
Automatic tax lookup — no additional fields required.
Flat Rate — enter a Tax rate (%).
Custom Zip — click + Add ZIP code (or Paste ZIP list to add several at once) and enter each ZIP code with its Tax rate (%). Enter a Fallback rate for unlisted ZIP codes — this applies to any Order in that state whose ZIP code isn't listed.
Toggle the entry Active.
Click Save.
How to edit or remove a tax entry
Navigate to Settings → Invoicing → Sales Taxes.
To edit an entry, click the edit icon on that row and update the fields.
To remove an entry, click the delete icon on that row, then click Delete to confirm. Deleting a tax entry removes its configuration entirely.
How to configure display settings
Navigate to Settings → Invoicing → Sales Taxes.
Under Display settings, enter a Tax label — this controls how tax is labeled on Invoices and Order pages (for example, Sales Tax, VAT, or GST).
Set Address used for sales tax to choose whether Spiro calculates tax from the property's listing address or your Office Address.
(Optional) Check Show estimated tax on order pages to display an estimated tax amount on bundle and add-on pricing during ordering — useful where regulations require tax-inclusive price display (e.g., UK). Enter an Estimated tax rate (%); this is a flat estimate used only for this preview and is separate from the tax entries above.
Click Save changes.
Notes
A Tax Type is set per state — different states on the same account can use different Tax Types. Existing Flat Rate entries are unaffected; edit an entry to change its Tax Type.
For Automatic tax lookup, if a property's ZIP code isn't found in Spiro's rate database, or an Order has no ZIP code on record, Spiro applies a fallback rate and flags the Invoice.
The tax rate applied to an Invoice is locked at the time the Invoice is generated. Later rate updates or address corrections do not change Invoices that were already generated.
You can manually override the tax rate on an individual Invoice at any time; this does not affect any other Invoice or your account settings.