Getting started with Resale Proof
This guide follows the same workflow shown in the Shopify review screencast: request a certificate, let the buyer submit it, approve it, confirm checkout, and export audit records.
Before you test checkout: Resale Proof can only remove tax that Shopify would otherwise charge. Configure Shopify Tax for your nexus states first, then test an approved buyer shipping to that same state.
1. Complete onboarding
After install, Resale Proof opens an onboarding flow for the basic merchant settings:
- sender name and support email for buyer-facing messages;
- nexus states where you collect sales tax;
- certificate types you accept;
- renewal reminder defaults.
You can update these later in Apps > Resale Proof > Settings.
2. Enable the buyer portal
If you use Shopify customer accounts, add the Resale Proof portal block:
- Open Settings > Customer accounts > Customize.
- Open the Apps panel.
- Add Resale Proof Portal to the profile/account page.
- Save the customer-account template.
This lets signed-in buyers upload and manage certificates from their account.
3. Request a certificate
Merchants can request a certificate from the Resale Proof admin:
- use Request certificate from the app dashboard or certificate area;
- choose the customer, state, and certificate type;
- send the buyer a magic-link upload email if they do not have an account login.
The request creates a clean path for the buyer instead of asking them to send PDFs through a general inbox.
4. Buyer uploads and signs
The buyer submits through either:
- the customer-account portal; or
- a magic-link upload page that does not require a Shopify login.
Both paths collect the state, permit number, certificate PDF or generated-form data, email verification, and digital signature.
See How buyers upload certificates for the buyer-facing details.
5. Merchant reviews and approves
New submissions land in Pending review. Open the certificate detail page and confirm:
- customer email;
- state and certificate type;
- permit number;
- expiration date or no fixed expiration;
- uploaded PDF or generated form;
- signature metadata.
Click Approve certificate when the record is acceptable. Approval stores the audit event and applies the matching Shopify tax exemption for the customer.
6. Confirm checkout behavior
To verify the end result:
- Use the approved buyer/customer.
- Ship to the state covered by the certificate.
- Confirm Shopify Tax is configured for that state.
- Open checkout and confirm tax is removed or shown as $0.00 where the exemption applies.
If tax still appears, check the buyer, shipping state, product taxability, and Shopify Tax settings before changing Resale Proof.
See How Shopify tax exemption sync works.
7. Export audit records
Open Audit bundle to export records by approval date and state. The PDF includes a cover sheet, table of contents, certificate evidence, and approval history.
See Audit bundle export guide.