HTSBase vs Avalara
Mid-size and large businesses that already use Avalara for tax and want cross-border duty in the same platform.
What Avalara does
AvaTax Cross-Border calculates or estimates customs duties and import taxes in real time at checkout and brings duty, import tax, VAT, GST and sales tax onto one platform. Avalara Tariff Code Classification assigns HS, HTS and Schedule B codes. Avalara also offers MCP servers for its compliance data.
Signup: Sales-gated. A form connects you with an Avalara global trade compliance expert.
Published pricing
- AvaTax Cross-Border: Quote only, not published source, checked October 2026
- Free: $0, 250 calls a month, no overage source, checked October 2026
- Starter: $29 a month, 2,000 calls, then $0.01 a call source, checked October 2026
- Growth: $99 a month, 15,000 calls, then $0.007 a call source, checked October 2026
- Scale: $199 a month, 50,000 calls, then $0.005 a call source, checked October 2026
One call returns classification, duty and landed cost for the U.S. or the EU.
Coverage
| Avalara | HTSBase | |
|---|---|---|
| Signup | Sales-gated | Self-serve |
| U.S. import duty | Yes | Yes, base rate plus trade programs |
| EU duty and VAT | Yes, duty and import VAT | Yes, CN 2026 duty and import VAT |
| Classification from a product description | Yes, Tariff Code Classification (separate product) | Yes, in the same call as duty and landed cost |
| Chapter 99 stacking (Section 301, 232) | Not published | Yes, Section 301 and 232 measures stacked and shown |
| EU EUR 3 per item duty (from July 1, 2026) | Not published | Yes |
| MCP server for AI agents | Yes, Avalara MCP servers | Yes, at /api/mcp |
"Not published" means we could not find it on Avalara's public pages in October 2026. It may still be available; ask Avalara.
When to choose Avalara instead
- You already run sales tax or VAT through Avalara and want one vendor.
- You need ERP integrations and an enterprise contract with support.
- You need classification services at catalog scale, including Schedule B for exports.
When HTSBase fits
- You want to start free and pay by the month without talking to sales.
- You have product descriptions, not codes, and want the code, duty and landed cost from one call.
- You import into the U.S. and need Section 301 and 232 measures shown on top of the base rate.
- You sell into the EU and need the EUR 3 per item duty and import VAT in the estimate.
- You want an AI agent to call it through MCP.
Sources
- Avalara AvaTax Cross-Border, checked October 2026
See our own numbers on the accuracy page and the status page.
250 free calls a month.
Classification, duty and landed cost for the U.S. and EU in one call.