Tell shoppers how tax is handled in the cart
Shoppers dislike surprises at checkout. Say whether tax is included or added later, right in the cart.
2 min read
Area
CRO & UX
Severity
Medium
Fix effort
Small
Stores failing
Not enough data
The cart should say how tax is handled: included in the price, or added at checkout. A single line removes the question and the surprise. This check looks for tax wording in the cart.
Why it matters
Unexpected costs at checkout drive abandonment. Tax is a common one, especially for shoppers who are used to seeing prices that already include it. Clear wording sets the expectation early.
What the audit looks at
The audit reads the cart summary for text about tax, VAT or taxes included or calculated at checkout.
What usually causes it
- Totals shown without a tax note
- Tax calculated only after an address is entered
- A theme that omits the line to keep the summary short
- Mixed pricing for different regions
How to fix it
Say how tax is handled in the cart. The effort is small, usually a setting or a paste and under 30 minutes.
- A line such as "Taxes calculated at checkout" or "Prices include VAT" removes a surprise at the last step.
On Shopify
- Settings > Taxes and duties: choose whether prices include tax. Current themes show "Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout" in the cart.
On WooCommerce
- WooCommerce > Settings > Tax: choose how prices are shown in the shop and during cart and checkout, and enable tax calculation.
How to check it yourself
- Open the cart as a shopper in each main market.
- Look for a tax statement beside the total.
- Compare it with what checkout charges.
Frequently asked questions
What wording works?
Tax included, or Taxes calculated at checkout, depending on your setup.
Do I need it in every country?
Say what is true for the shopper in front of you. Platforms can show region-specific text.
Related checks
Check your own store
See whether your store passes this check
Paste your store URL. The audit loads your pages in a real browser and shows the result for this check with the evidence behind it.