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# Create Exemption Certificate

POST https://api.zip-tax.com/merchant/cert/create
Content-Type: application/json

Available on Enterprise PlanForwards to TaxCloud POST /connections/\{connectionId}/exemption-certificates. All certificate fields other than merchantId are relayed unchanged. Requires a TaxCloud-connected merchant with credentials on file: this operation returns 403 for a self-managed merchant, whose only available transaction endpoint is /merchant/cart/calculate.

Reference: https://docs.zip.tax/api-reference/merchant-transactions-tax-cloud/merchant-cert-create

## Authentication

- `X-API-KEY` header (required) — API Key authentication via header

## Request

### Body (application/json)

This endpoint expects an object.

- `address` (TaxCloudAddress, required) — Address of the exempt customer.
- `customerBusinessType` (enum, required) — The type of business the customer is.
  - Allowed values: `AccommodationAndFoodServices`, `AgriculturalForestryFishingHunting`, `Construction`, `FinanceAndInsurance`, `InformationPublishingAndCommunications`, `Manufacturing`, `Mining`, `RealEstate`, `RentalAndLeasing`, `RetailTrade`, `TransportationAndWarehousing`, `Utilities`, `WholesaleTrade`, `BusinessServices`, `ProfessionalServices`, `EducationAndHealthCareServices`, `NonprofitOrganization`, `Government`, `NotABusiness`, `Other`
- `customerId` (string, required) — Your identifier for the exempt customer. Carts and orders submitted with this customerId can use the certificate.
- `customerName` (string, required) — Name of the customer or organization the certificate is issued to.
- `merchantId` (string, required) — UUID of the merchant. Must be owned by the calling account. Consumed by the Ziptax layer for routing and not forwarded to TaxCloud.
- `reason` (enum, required) — The reason the customer is exempt from sales tax.
  - Allowed values: `FederalGovernment`, `StateOrLocalGovernment`, `TribalGovernment`, `ForeignDiplomat`, `CharitableOrganization`, `EducationalOrganization`, `Resale`, `AgriculturalProduction`, `IndustrialProductionOrManufacturing`, `DirectPayPermit`, `DirectMail`, `Other`, `ReligiousOrganization`
- `reasonDescription` (string, required) — Short free-text elaboration of the exemption reason (maximum 20 characters).
- `states` (list of TaxCloudExemptState, required) — The states the certificate is valid in, each as a two-letter abbreviation object.
- `customerBusinessDescription` (string, optional) — Free-text description of the business. Provide when customerBusinessType is Other.

## Response

### 200

TaxCloud response relayed verbatim.

- `accountId` (long, required) — The TaxCloud account id the certificate belongs to.
- `address` (TaxCloudAddress, required) — Address of the exempt customer.
- `certificateId` (string, required) — TaxCloud's identifier for the exemption certificate. Use it with /merchant/cert/get, /merchant/cert/delete, and as exemptionId on carts and orders.
- `connectionId` (string, required) — The TaxCloud connection the certificate belongs to.
- `createdDate` (datetime, required) — RFC3339 datetime the certificate was created.
- `customerBusinessType` (string, required) — The type of business the customer is (e.g. RetailTrade, Government, NonprofitOrganization).
- `customerId` (string, required) — Your identifier for the exempt customer.
- `customerName` (string, required) — Name of the customer the certificate was issued to.
- `reason` (string, required) — The reason the customer is exempt (e.g. Resale, FederalGovernment, CharitableOrganization).
- `reasonDescription` (string, required) — Free-text elaboration of the exemption reason.
- `singlePurchase` (boolean, required) — Whether the certificate covers a single purchase only, rather than being a blanket certificate.
- `customerBusinessDescription` (string, optional) — Free-text description of the business, present when customerBusinessType is Other.
- `disabledAt` (datetime, optional) — RFC3339 datetime the certificate was disabled, or null while it is active.
- `states` (list of TaxCloudExemptState, optional) — The states the certificate is valid in.

## Errors

### 400 Merchant Cert Create Body Bad Request Error

Bad Request

- `detail` (string, optional) — A human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.
- `errors` (list of ErrorDetail, optional) — List of individual error details
- `instance` (string, optional) — A URI reference that identifies the specific occurrence of the problem.
- `status` (long, optional) — HTTP status code
- `title` (string, optional) — A short, human-readable summary of the problem type. This value should not change between occurrences of the error.
- `type` (string, optional, default: about:blank) — A URI reference to human-readable documentation for the error.

### 401 Merchant Cert Create Body Unauthorized Error

Unauthorized

- `detail` (string, optional) — A human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.
- `errors` (list of ErrorDetail, optional) — List of individual error details
- `instance` (string, optional) — A URI reference that identifies the specific occurrence of the problem.
- `status` (long, optional) — HTTP status code
- `title` (string, optional) — A short, human-readable summary of the problem type. This value should not change between occurrences of the error.
- `type` (string, optional, default: about:blank) — A URI reference to human-readable documentation for the error.

### 403 Merchant Cert Create Body Forbidden Error

Forbidden

- `detail` (string, optional) — A human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.
- `errors` (list of ErrorDetail, optional) — List of individual error details
- `instance` (string, optional) — A URI reference that identifies the specific occurrence of the problem.
- `status` (long, optional) — HTTP status code
- `title` (string, optional) — A short, human-readable summary of the problem type. This value should not change between occurrences of the error.
- `type` (string, optional, default: about:blank) — A URI reference to human-readable documentation for the error.

### 404 Merchant Cert Create Body Not Found Error

Not Found

- `detail` (string, optional) — A human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.
- `errors` (list of ErrorDetail, optional) — List of individual error details
- `instance` (string, optional) — A URI reference that identifies the specific occurrence of the problem.
- `status` (long, optional) — HTTP status code
- `title` (string, optional) — A short, human-readable summary of the problem type. This value should not change between occurrences of the error.
- `type` (string, optional, default: about:blank) — A URI reference to human-readable documentation for the error.

### 413 Merchant Cert Create Body Content Too Large Error

Request Entity Too Large

- `detail` (string, optional) — A human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.
- `errors` (list of ErrorDetail, optional) — List of individual error details
- `instance` (string, optional) — A URI reference that identifies the specific occurrence of the problem.
- `status` (long, optional) — HTTP status code
- `title` (string, optional) — A short, human-readable summary of the problem type. This value should not change between occurrences of the error.
- `type` (string, optional, default: about:blank) — A URI reference to human-readable documentation for the error.

### 422 Merchant Cert Create Body Unprocessable Entity Error

Unprocessable Entity

- `detail` (string, optional) — A human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.
- `errors` (list of ErrorDetail, optional) — List of individual error details
- `instance` (string, optional) — A URI reference that identifies the specific occurrence of the problem.
- `status` (long, optional) — HTTP status code
- `title` (string, optional) — A short, human-readable summary of the problem type. This value should not change between occurrences of the error.
- `type` (string, optional, default: about:blank) — A URI reference to human-readable documentation for the error.

### 429 Merchant Cert Create Body Too Many Requests Error

Too Many Requests

- `detail` (string, optional) — A human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.
- `errors` (list of ErrorDetail, optional) — List of individual error details
- `instance` (string, optional) — A URI reference that identifies the specific occurrence of the problem.
- `status` (long, optional) — HTTP status code
- `title` (string, optional) — A short, human-readable summary of the problem type. This value should not change between occurrences of the error.
- `type` (string, optional, default: about:blank) — A URI reference to human-readable documentation for the error.

### 500 Merchant Cert Create Body Internal Server Error

Internal Server Error

- `detail` (string, optional) — A human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.
- `errors` (list of ErrorDetail, optional) — List of individual error details
- `instance` (string, optional) — A URI reference that identifies the specific occurrence of the problem.
- `status` (long, optional) — HTTP status code
- `title` (string, optional) — A short, human-readable summary of the problem type. This value should not change between occurrences of the error.
- `type` (string, optional, default: about:blank) — A URI reference to human-readable documentation for the error.

### 502 Merchant Cert Create Body Bad Gateway Error

Bad Gateway

- `detail` (string, optional) — A human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.
- `errors` (list of ErrorDetail, optional) — List of individual error details
- `instance` (string, optional) — A URI reference that identifies the specific occurrence of the problem.
- `status` (long, optional) — HTTP status code
- `title` (string, optional) — A short, human-readable summary of the problem type. This value should not change between occurrences of the error.
- `type` (string, optional, default: about:blank) — A URI reference to human-readable documentation for the error.

### 504 Merchant Cert Create Body Gateway Timeout Error

Gateway Timeout

- `detail` (string, optional) — A human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.
- `errors` (list of ErrorDetail, optional) — List of individual error details
- `instance` (string, optional) — A URI reference that identifies the specific occurrence of the problem.
- `status` (long, optional) — HTTP status code
- `title` (string, optional) — A short, human-readable summary of the problem type. This value should not change between occurrences of the error.
- `type` (string, optional, default: about:blank) — A URI reference to human-readable documentation for the error.

## Types

### TaxCloudAddress

- `city` (string, required) — City or post-town of the address.
- `line1` (string, required) — First line of the address: street number and name, PO Box, or building. Values longer than 50 characters are automatically truncated by TaxCloud.
- `state` (string, required) — State, province, or other large territorial division, as a two-letter abbreviation (e.g. MN, CA, ON).
- `zip` (string, required) — Postal or ZIP code. Five-digit (55401) and ZIP+4 (55401-2427) formats are accepted for US addresses.
- `countryCode` (enum, optional, default: US) — ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code of the address. US (United States) or CA (Canada). Defaults to US when omitted.
  - Allowed values: `US`, `CA`
- `line2` (string, optional) — Second line of the address, if any (e.g. apartment, suite, or unit number). Values longer than 50 characters are automatically truncated by TaxCloud.

### TaxCloudExemptState

- `abbreviation` (string, required) — Two-letter abbreviation of a state the exemption certificate is valid in.

### ErrorDetail

- `location` (string, optional) — Where the error occurred, e.g. 'body.items[3].tags' or 'path.thing-id'
- `message` (string, optional) — Error message text
- `value` (any, optional) — The value at the given location

## Examples

**Request**

```json
{
  "address": {
    "city": "Minneapolis",
    "line1": "323 Washington Ave N",
    "state": "MN",
    "zip": "55401-2427"
  },
  "customerBusinessType": "AccommodationAndFoodServices",
  "customerId": "customer-453",
  "customerName": "Mr. Francis Exempt",
  "merchantId": "merchantId",
  "reason": "FederalGovernment",
  "reasonDescription": "reasonDescription",
  "states": [
    {
      "abbreviation": "MN"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Response**

```json
{
  "accountId": 1000000,
  "address": {
    "city": "Minneapolis",
    "line1": "323 Washington Ave N",
    "state": "MN",
    "zip": "55401-2427",
    "countryCode": "US",
    "line2": "line2"
  },
  "certificateId": "certificateId",
  "connectionId": "connectionId",
  "createdDate": "2024-08-01T14:00:00Z",
  "customerBusinessType": "customerBusinessType",
  "customerId": "customerId",
  "customerName": "Mr. Francis Exempt",
  "reason": "Resale",
  "reasonDescription": "reasonDescription",
  "singlePurchase": true,
  "customerBusinessDescription": "customerBusinessDescription",
  "disabledAt": "2024-01-15T09:30:00Z",
  "states": [
    {
      "abbreviation": "MN"
    }
  ]
}
```

**SDK Code**

```python
import requests

url = "https://api.zip-tax.com/merchant/cert/create"

payload = {
    "address": {
        "city": "Minneapolis",
        "line1": "323 Washington Ave N",
        "state": "MN",
        "zip": "55401-2427"
    },
    "customerBusinessType": "AccommodationAndFoodServices",
    "customerId": "customer-453",
    "customerName": "Mr. Francis Exempt",
    "merchantId": "merchantId",
    "reason": "FederalGovernment",
    "reasonDescription": "reasonDescription",
    "states": [{ "abbreviation": "MN" }]
}
headers = {
    "X-API-KEY": "<apiKey>",
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)

print(response.json())
```

```javascript
const url = 'https://api.zip-tax.com/merchant/cert/create';
const options = {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {'X-API-KEY': '<apiKey>', 'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
  body: '{"address":{"city":"Minneapolis","line1":"323 Washington Ave N","state":"MN","zip":"55401-2427"},"customerBusinessType":"AccommodationAndFoodServices","customerId":"customer-453","customerName":"Mr. Francis Exempt","merchantId":"merchantId","reason":"FederalGovernment","reasonDescription":"reasonDescription","states":[{"abbreviation":"MN"}]}'
};

try {
  const response = await fetch(url, options);
  const data = await response.json();
  console.log(data);
} catch (error) {
  console.error(error);
}
```

```go
package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"strings"
	"net/http"
	"io"
)

func main() {

	url := "https://api.zip-tax.com/merchant/cert/create"

	payload := strings.NewReader("{\n  \"address\": {\n    \"city\": \"Minneapolis\",\n    \"line1\": \"323 Washington Ave N\",\n    \"state\": \"MN\",\n    \"zip\": \"55401-2427\"\n  },\n  \"customerBusinessType\": \"AccommodationAndFoodServices\",\n  \"customerId\": \"customer-453\",\n  \"customerName\": \"Mr. Francis Exempt\",\n  \"merchantId\": \"merchantId\",\n  \"reason\": \"FederalGovernment\",\n  \"reasonDescription\": \"reasonDescription\",\n  \"states\": [\n    {\n      \"abbreviation\": \"MN\"\n    }\n  ]\n}")

	req, _ := http.NewRequest("POST", url, payload)

	req.Header.Add("X-API-KEY", "<apiKey>")
	req.Header.Add("Content-Type", "application/json")

	res, _ := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)

	defer res.Body.Close()
	body, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)

	fmt.Println(res)
	fmt.Println(string(body))

}
```

```ruby
require 'uri'
require 'net/http'

url = URI("https://api.zip-tax.com/merchant/cert/create")

http = Net::HTTP.new(url.host, url.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Post.new(url)
request["X-API-KEY"] = '<apiKey>'
request["Content-Type"] = 'application/json'
request.body = "{\n  \"address\": {\n    \"city\": \"Minneapolis\",\n    \"line1\": \"323 Washington Ave N\",\n    \"state\": \"MN\",\n    \"zip\": \"55401-2427\"\n  },\n  \"customerBusinessType\": \"AccommodationAndFoodServices\",\n  \"customerId\": \"customer-453\",\n  \"customerName\": \"Mr. Francis Exempt\",\n  \"merchantId\": \"merchantId\",\n  \"reason\": \"FederalGovernment\",\n  \"reasonDescription\": \"reasonDescription\",\n  \"states\": [\n    {\n      \"abbreviation\": \"MN\"\n    }\n  ]\n}"

response = http.request(request)
puts response.read_body
```

```java
import com.mashape.unirest.http.HttpResponse;
import com.mashape.unirest.http.Unirest;

HttpResponse<String> response = Unirest.post("https://api.zip-tax.com/merchant/cert/create")
  .header("X-API-KEY", "<apiKey>")
  .header("Content-Type", "application/json")
  .body("{\n  \"address\": {\n    \"city\": \"Minneapolis\",\n    \"line1\": \"323 Washington Ave N\",\n    \"state\": \"MN\",\n    \"zip\": \"55401-2427\"\n  },\n  \"customerBusinessType\": \"AccommodationAndFoodServices\",\n  \"customerId\": \"customer-453\",\n  \"customerName\": \"Mr. Francis Exempt\",\n  \"merchantId\": \"merchantId\",\n  \"reason\": \"FederalGovernment\",\n  \"reasonDescription\": \"reasonDescription\",\n  \"states\": [\n    {\n      \"abbreviation\": \"MN\"\n    }\n  ]\n}")
  .asString();
```

```php
<?php
require_once('vendor/autoload.php');

$client = new \GuzzleHttp\Client();

$response = $client->request('POST', 'https://api.zip-tax.com/merchant/cert/create', [
  'body' => '{
  "address": {
    "city": "Minneapolis",
    "line1": "323 Washington Ave N",
    "state": "MN",
    "zip": "55401-2427"
  },
  "customerBusinessType": "AccommodationAndFoodServices",
  "customerId": "customer-453",
  "customerName": "Mr. Francis Exempt",
  "merchantId": "merchantId",
  "reason": "FederalGovernment",
  "reasonDescription": "reasonDescription",
  "states": [
    {
      "abbreviation": "MN"
    }
  ]
}',
  'headers' => [
    'Content-Type' => 'application/json',
    'X-API-KEY' => '<apiKey>',
  ],
]);

echo $response->getBody();
```

```csharp
using RestSharp;

var client = new RestClient("https://api.zip-tax.com/merchant/cert/create");
var request = new RestRequest(Method.POST);
request.AddHeader("X-API-KEY", "<apiKey>");
request.AddHeader("Content-Type", "application/json");
request.AddParameter("application/json", "{\n  \"address\": {\n    \"city\": \"Minneapolis\",\n    \"line1\": \"323 Washington Ave N\",\n    \"state\": \"MN\",\n    \"zip\": \"55401-2427\"\n  },\n  \"customerBusinessType\": \"AccommodationAndFoodServices\",\n  \"customerId\": \"customer-453\",\n  \"customerName\": \"Mr. Francis Exempt\",\n  \"merchantId\": \"merchantId\",\n  \"reason\": \"FederalGovernment\",\n  \"reasonDescription\": \"reasonDescription\",\n  \"states\": [\n    {\n      \"abbreviation\": \"MN\"\n    }\n  ]\n}", ParameterType.RequestBody);
IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);
```

```swift
import Foundation

let headers = [
  "X-API-KEY": "<apiKey>",
  "Content-Type": "application/json"
]
let parameters = [
  "address": [
    "city": "Minneapolis",
    "line1": "323 Washington Ave N",
    "state": "MN",
    "zip": "55401-2427"
  ],
  "customerBusinessType": "AccommodationAndFoodServices",
  "customerId": "customer-453",
  "customerName": "Mr. Francis Exempt",
  "merchantId": "merchantId",
  "reason": "FederalGovernment",
  "reasonDescription": "reasonDescription",
  "states": [["abbreviation": "MN"]]
] as [String : Any]

let postData = JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject: parameters, options: [])

let request = NSMutableURLRequest(url: NSURL(string: "https://api.zip-tax.com/merchant/cert/create")! as URL,
                                        cachePolicy: .useProtocolCachePolicy,
                                    timeoutInterval: 10.0)
request.httpMethod = "POST"
request.allHTTPHeaderFields = headers
request.httpBody = postData as Data

let session = URLSession.shared
let dataTask = session.dataTask(with: request as URLRequest, completionHandler: { (data, response, error) -> Void in
  if (error != nil) {
    print(error as Any)
  } else {
    let httpResponse = response as? HTTPURLResponse
    print(httpResponse)
  }
})

dataTask.resume()
```