Commerce Web Store Tax Support in NetSuite 2026.1

TL;DR Opening

Starting in NetSuite 2026.1, enhancements to SuiteCommerce now include robust support for VAT, GST, and PST tax calculations in Commerce web stores. This feature allows for better compliance with tax regulations across various regions, including Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, enhancing user experience for both guest and logged-in shoppers.

What's New

NetSuite 2026.1 has improved tax management capabilities within SuiteCommerce by introducing support for VAT, GST, and PST. This update enables businesses to better display and manage tax calculations in their web stores. Key features include:

• Tax Estimates for Guest Shoppers: Tax estimates shown to guest shoppers are based on default settings configured in the Set Up Taxes page. Note that while the Commerce API sends this information, it does not perform the calculations, necessitating the use of SuiteTax or an external tax provider for accurate calculations.
• Multi-Tax Support: SuiteCommerce can now display various tax types, including VAT, GST, and PST, specifically designed for customers in regions such as Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Check Settings before Going Live: Before enabling these tax displays, ensure that your NetSuite account has the appropriate tax types and codes configured. For detailed setup assistance, refer to NetSuite's Taxation documentation.

Enabling Tax Display

To enable VAT/GST/HST tax display in your Commerce web store:

1. Navigate to Commerce > Websites > Configuration.
2. Select the website and domain you wish to configure.
3. On the Shopping Catalog subtab, activate the option labeled "If the Information is Available to your Country, shows detailed taxes in the cart."
4. Ensure the correct tax codes are entered in the Accounting subtab of your item records.
5. For accounts in Australia and New Zealand, decide on the Prices Include Tax option in the Sales/Pricing subtab of the item record.
   • If activated, the product page will reflect the total cost including tax, and checkout will separately display item cost and tax.
   • If not activated, the product page will show the price excluding tax, but tax breakdowns will still be visible during checkout.

User Experience at Checkout

When the VAT/GST/PST display is properly set up, users will see a complete breakdown of tax amounts during the checkout process:

• Tax Visibility for Logged-in Users: Customers must be logged in to view accurate tax information, particularly for Canadian accounts, where a default address needs to be selected; otherwise, they may encounter a tax code error.

Compliance and Accuracy

For customers leveraging SuiteTax, the system allows for:

• Updating the total tax dynamically at checkout based on changes to items, quantities, shipping addresses, and methods.
• Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B) support, enabling detailed tax summaries in the order histories.

Who This Affects

• Administrators: Responsible for configuring tax settings within the SuiteCommerce platform.
• Developers: Tasked with integrating and utilizing the Commerce API for accurate tax data handling.
• Accountants: Ensuring compliance with applicable tax regulations and overseeing the accuracy of tax displays.
• Business Owners: Benefitting from enhanced clarity in tax calculations shown to their customers.

Key Takeaways

• Enhanced VAT, GST, and PST support is now available in SuiteCommerce for various regions starting in NetSuite 2026.1.
• Tax estimates for guest shoppers are based on default settings and require accurate configuration in NetSuite.
• Active login is required for users to view tax breakdowns in Canadian accounts to avoid errors.
• Businesses must ensure that their item records have the appropriate tax codes for accurate display.
• Users can opt to display prices including tax or excluding tax based on their regional needs.