Overview

Provided by Thomson Reuters, Determination automates sales tax, use tax, GST, VAT and excise tax calculations. It combines global tax content with connections to ERP, finance, billing, commerce, point-of-sale and payment systems. That scope is useful when tax has to follow transactions across several operational systems, rather than being handled in a single checkout flow.

Key features

Broad tax coverage: Automated calculations span multiple tax types and jurisdictions, including specialized industries and regions. Real-time delivery of rates and rules helps keep calculations current as transactions are processed.
Business-system connections: Pre-built and custom integrations give organizations options for connecting existing systems. The range is an advantage for varied technology environments, though custom work may be needed to match a particular setup.
Deployment and scale: The cloud-based indirect-tax engine has an edge-computing option, and automatic synchronization supports high transaction volumes. Determination Anywhere supports business-specific security and data-residency requirements.
Controls and configuration: Company-structure configuration, global calculations and tax-return streamlining address more than checkout arithmetic. Automated calculations and certified processes are intended to reduce mistakes that can trigger audits; the processes are backed by SSAE 18 and ISAE 3402 certifications.
Industry offerings: Dedicated options for oil and gas, retail, manufacturing and technology make the product more relevant to organizations with sector-specific tax needs.

Pricing

Determination is paid software with custom pricing. Organizations can request a free demo and contact a representative, but there is no self-serve price to compare against a budget before speaking with sales. That route is more suited to businesses evaluating a substantial tax operation than smaller teams looking for a clearly priced subscription.

Platforms

Determination is web-based. Its cloud engine and edge-computing option provide deployment flexibility within that web product, while integrations connect it with operational systems. The product supports exemption certificates as well as real-time tax calculations.

Who it's for

Consider Determination if your organization needs multiple indirect-tax types, global jurisdiction coverage, high transaction throughput and integrations spanning business systems. Its industry-specific content and data-residency support are particular strengths for complex organizations. A team with a narrower need, limited transaction volume or a preference for transparent, self-service pricing may find the sales-led custom-pricing model harder to justify.

Pros and cons

Pros

Wide tax and jurisdiction coverage: One product handles sales, use, GST, VAT and excise calculations, including specialized jurisdictions and industries.
Built for connected operations: Pre-built and custom integrations, plus automatic synchronization, suit businesses processing tax across multiple systems and high transaction volumes.
Operational safeguards: Certified processes, real-time rule updates and support for data-residency requirements address compliance and deployment concerns.

Cons

Custom pricing requires a sales conversation: A free demo can be requested, but teams cannot assess a published subscription price up front.
Its breadth may be unnecessary for simpler needs: Organizations needing tax calculations in only one narrow workflow may not benefit from the global and industry-specific scope.
Web is the supported platform: The product offers cloud and edge deployment options, but its listed platform is web.

Alternatives

For organizations comparing tax software, Tax Engine Software and Tax Compliance Software are useful category starting points.

Zamp is worth considering for teams that want a free 30-day sandbox before choosing a paid tax solution.
CCH SureTax offers a choice between technology-only, filing and remittance, or fully outsourced service models.
Stripe Tax may suit teams seeking tax calculation and collection integrations for Stripe Billing, Checkout, Invoicing or Payment Links.
Kintsugi is a freemium alternative with a free plan for nexus monitoring, exposure and historical liability audits, and risk assessment.
Vertex Cloud Indirect Tax is another paid API-based option.
Anrok may suit businesses preferring published starting prices, including $50.00 USD per month per market for eCommerce companies.
Numeral offers a freemium option with free nexus study and monitoring.
Sphere may fit teams with fewer than 10 regions seeking a published Starter price of $100.00 USD per month.

Verdict

Choose ONESOURCE Determination when your organization needs global, multi-tax calculations tied into a complex business environment, especially at high volume or with industry-specific requirements. Its integration breadth, real-time content and deployment flexibility are the strongest reasons to shortlist it. Look elsewhere if a narrow tax workflow and an upfront, self-serve price matter more than that breadth.

	ONESOURCE Determination	ShipVAT
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	No	Yes
Paid from	—	$49/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Web	api, Web
Real-time calculation	Yes	—
Tax types	multiple	—
Commerce connectors	Yes	—
Exemption certificates	Yes	Yes
Free plan	—	Yes
Paid from	—	49 /mo

ONESOURCE Determination vs ShipVAT

ONESOURCE Determination

ShipVAT