> This page is for version v6.0 (default).
> For other versions, use one of these documentation indexes:
> - v6.0 (default): https://docs.zip.tax/v-6-0/llms.txt
> - v5.0: https://docs.zip.tax/v-5-0/llms.txt

> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.zip.tax/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.zip.tax/_mcp/server.

# How to create an API key

Every Ziptax API request needs an API key. This walkthrough shows you how
to create one from your account dashboard at
[platform.zip.tax](https://platform.zip.tax).

### Go to `platform.zip.tax`

![The Ziptax platform Getting Started page](/_fern-img/15e6b4d294604a3adc85320789550d9d51f4ba0301af121295c23ccf29922293.webp)

### Go to `Develop > API Keys`

![The Develop section expanded in the sidebar with API Keys highlighted](/_fern-img/c70bcd787285d9cc77e48ad2423f1ddaf7557bea1908ad34602db8c693b44174.webp)

### Click `Create New Key`

![The Create New Key button in the top right of the API Keys page](/_fern-img/a470665c736ebd736922114398b2b7da5fad509c8609eb32e94a5cd06087ae66.webp)

### Copy your new key

![A newly created API key with the copy icon highlighted](/_fern-img/1aa94d4a32d395be7ccf4fccd3d5b692659aa2522b21e9887105d694eaa90323.webp)

Store the key somewhere safe. It's only shown in full once. Treat it like a password: keep it out of source control and don't share it publicly.

Once you have a key, head to [Authentication](../reference/authentication) to see how
to use it on every request, or jump into the
[Quickstart](quickstart) to make your first call.