Maxmind Taxes Setup in WordPress on Shared Hosting

Hi @scafidi454

Thank you for reaching out — we’re happy to help!

Maxmind Taxes Setup in WordPress on Shared Hosting

From what I gather, you are able to insert the Maxmind key in the WooCommerce settings, as detailed here. Correct?

Just to clarify, did you already have a chance to reach out to the site’s hosting provider, inquiring about the issue (as I suppose this won’t be their first, or only, WooCommerce site they’re hosting), alongside making sure all file permissions and Cron is set up as required, or otherwise?

While browsing the site at https://www.TurnKeyMSP.net, it appears only US billing addresses are permitted. Therefore, feel free to go ahead with utilizing WooCommerce Tax, instead, as an alternative to calculating taxes at Checkout.

I hope this is helpful! Please let us know if you have any further questions about this matter, or if we misinterpret your concern in any way. We will be happy to help you further.

anastas10s,

I have the key in correctly.

The cron job is entered and seems to be working (no errors received).

However, I will want to export to other countries, eventually. So, I’d prefer to get this setup correctly in the beginning.

Additionally, I upgraded my server from a shared to VPS. So, I have root access now.

After downloading the .tar.gz needed, following the install guide, etc., I am not able to get the cron updating job to run, but it’s a permissions issue I’m working on with my host.

As far as the tax calulcations, it appears it’s only working for local/home state, and not out of state.

By default, the MaxMind integration only does country lookups, and not city.

So, I’m trying to figure out how to import the GeoLite2-City .CSVs into WooCommerce’s tax table.

However, looking at the file, it’s not going too work / match up by default.

Will WooCommerce Tax calculate exact (state, city, etc.) taxes based on the shipping address? I have it installed, but I don’t think it’s working.

I have also tried using Geolocate and no location by default, as some users may not be where their IP is at.

This is what I’m referencing.

https://woocommerce.com/document/maxmind-geolocation-integration/

https://dev.maxmind.com/geoip/updating-databases/#3-run-geoip-update

https://dev.maxmind.com/geoip/updating-databases

https://github.com/maxmind/geoipupdate

https://github.com/maxmind/geoipupdate/releases

Do I need to purchase?
https://www.maxmind.com/en/geoip-api-web-services

I’d rather do it manually if it’s free for now; I’m just starting out.

Hi @scafidi454

I understand your challenge with the Maxmind integration.

I have the databases, the keys, the GeoIP.conf, the documentation, but the problem is it seems the geoipupdate program hast to be in /usr/local/etc, which is a root directory I have no access to.

Since you’ve upgraded to a VPS and have root access, you should be able to place the geoipupdate program in /usr/local/etc.

I got WP All Import Pro, but it doesn’t seem to be able to import/transform the CSVs into taxes.

WooCommerce tax table does not directly support GeoLite2-City.CSVs. You may need to write a custom script to convert the CSV to a compatible format.

As far as the tax calulcations, it appears it’s only working for local/home state, and not out of state.

WooCommerce Tax should calculate taxes based on the shipping address. If it’s not working as expected, please ensure you have the correct settings under WooCommerce > Settings > Tax.

Do I need to purchase? https://www.maxmind.com/en/geoip-api-web-services

If you can update the database manually, you do not need to purchase the API. The API is a paid service that provides automatic updates, but it’s not mandatory for the integration.

However, as mentioned in our docs, you must get license keys from MaxMind for easy inntegration: https://woocommerce.com/document/maxmind-geolocation-integration/#create-a-maxmind-license-key

Error loading configuration: the EditionIDs option is required

Please ensure that the EditionIDs in your GeoIP.conf match the databases for which you have a license. The error message suggests that there might be a discrepancy.

If you are still having problems, we recommend asking development questions on the #developers channel of the WooCommerce Community Slack. Many of our developers hang out there and will be able to offer insights into your question. You can also seek help from the following:

• A local web developer
• Codeable.io
• WooExperts

I hope this information is helpful. If you need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask.

I understand your challenge with the Maxmind integration.

I have the databases, the keys, the GeoIP.conf, the documentation, but the problem is it seems the geoipupdate program hast to be in /usr/local/etc, which is a root directory I have no access to.

Since you’ve upgraded to a VPS and have root access, you should be able to place the geoipupdate program in /usr/local/etc.

– Yea; did that already. The problem is the difference between crontabs. I’m working with my host.

I got WP All Import Pro, but it doesn’t seem to be able to import/transform the CSVs into taxes.

WooCommerce tax table does not directly support GeoLite2-City.CSVs. You may need to write a custom script to convert the CSV to a compatible format.

– Maxmind won’t work as it only looks up based on IP, which isn’t sufficient for mobile users, different shipping locations, spoofed IPs, etc.

As far as the tax calulcations, it appears it’s only working for local/home state, and not out of state.

WooCommerce Tax should calculate taxes based on the shipping address. If it’s not working as expected, please ensure you have the correct settings under WooCommerce > Settings > Tax.

– I said I was using the guide; don’t you think I already have been troubleshooting with the tax settings?

Do I need to purchase? https://www.maxmind.com/en/geoip-api-web-services

If you can update the database manually, you do not need to purchase the API. The API is a paid service that provides automatic updates, but it’s not mandatory for the integration.

However, as mentioned in our docs, you must get license keys from MaxMind for easy inntegration:?https://woocommerce.com/document/maxmind-geolocation-integration/#create-a-maxmind-license-key

– Yea, I have the keys. The service won’t work for my use.

Error loading configuration: the EditionIDs option is required

Please ensure that the EditionIDs in your GeoIP.conf match the databases for which you have a license. The error message suggests that there might be a discrepancy.

– Yes, they are. I said I was using the guide, which includes modifying the default GeoIP.conf, which I did. It’s fine.

If you are still having problems, we recommend asking development questions on the #developers channel of the?WooCommerce Community Slack. Many of our developers hang out there and will be able to offer insights into your question. You can also seek help from the following:

– I will check the slack group, but if it’s anything like the previous support/comments I’ve received, it won’t be useful either.

• A local web developer <- This option is so obvious, I don’t know why people mention it.
• Codeable.io <- will look
• WooExperts <- will look

I hope this information is helpful. If you need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask.

– Haven’t gotten any solutions in the few posts I’ve made (this year only) in the past eight years of having this account.

Hello scafidi454,

Thank you for your reply.

I entirely understand that finding the right solution can be challenging, especially when dealing with specific cases like varying customer locations and mobile users.

It’s good to hear that you’re considering engaging with the WooCommerce Community Slack.
Your situation might benefit from a custom solution that can cater to the varied requirements of your online store.

The WooCommerce Community Slack can indeed be a valuable resource, as it’s frequented by a diverse group of developers who may have encountered similar issues and can provide fresh perspectives or innovative solutions.

Let me know if you have any other questions or concerns related to WooCommerce.
I will be happy to assist. ??

Best regards.

Hi @scafidi454

We’ve not heard back from you in a while, so I’m marking this thread as resolved. Hopefully, you were able to find a solution to your problem!

If you have further questions, please feel free to open a new topic.

Thanks!

My reply was less than three days ago, and there was no resolution.

What a waste of time and effort here. Always providing generic and canned info.

Joined the Dev group on Slack; also, no help yet, but I am keeping an eye on it.

Hi @scafidi454

I understand your frustration with the issues you’re encountering regarding the Maxmind integration and tax calculations. It’s clear you’ve put a lot of effort into resolving these problems, and I’m sorry to hear that you’re still facing challenges.

I’m also sorry to hear that you haven’t found the support you were looking for in the WooCommerce Community Slack or from a local web developer. I understand that these resources may not always provide the specific help needed.

I would recommend reaching out to Codeable.io or WooExperts. These platforms have experts who specialize in WooCommerce and could provide more tailored assistance.

I apologize if our responses have come across as generic. We strive to provide the best support possible (with the core functionality of WooCommerce), and your feedback helps us improve. Please let us know if you have any further questions or if there’s anything else we can do to assist you.