Auto Register: What It Covers and How to Turn It On
Learn how Kintsugi Auto Register works: it only registers states where nexus was met within the past 30 days; older nexus states need manual registration.Updated 12 days ago
Auto Register lets Kintsugi start a US sales tax registration for you as soon as your business meets nexus in a new state. Instead of watching your thresholds and submitting each request by hand, you switch the setting on once and Kintsugi acts on new nexus as it happens.
This article covers what Auto Register picks up, what it does not, how to turn it on, and what to do about states it will not cover.
What Auto Register Covers
Auto Register acts on US nexus met within the last 30 days. Here is how that plays out in practice.
Your situation | What Auto Register does |
|---|---|
You meet nexus in a new US state while Auto Register is on | Covered. Kintsugi starts the registration request for you. |
You met nexus in a US state more than 30 days ago, including states already sitting in Exposed before you switched the setting on | Not covered. These stay as they are until you start them. See "Handling States Auto Register Will Not Pick Up" article section below |
You meet nexus outside the US, such as Canada, the UK, the EU, Australia, or New Zealand | Not covered. Auto Register is a US-only feature. International registrations are always started manually. |
Good to know: Turning Auto Register on does not sweep up the exposure you already have. It looks forward, not backward. That is deliberate, because older nexus often needs a closer look before you register, and sometimes a different path entirely.
Why the 30 Day Window Exists
When nexus is only days old, registering promptly is almost always the right move, so it is safe to automate.
Older nexus is different. If you crossed a threshold months ago and have not registered, you may have back tax to account for, and the best route may be a Voluntary Disclosure Agreement rather than a standard registration. Kintsugi leaves those decisions with you rather than making them automatically on your behalf.
How to Turn On Auto Register
Navigation: Log in to Kintsugi > Configuration > Settings > Auto Register > Confirm
Time to complete: Under a minute.
Log in to Kintsugi.
Select Configuration from the left side menu.
Go to Settings
Find Auto Register and switch the toggle ON.
Review the confirmation message and select Confirm. Kintsugi confirms that it will automatically start US registrations within 30 days of meeting nexus.
How to confirm it worked: The toggle stays on after the page reloads.
What Happens After a State Qualifies
Auto Register starts the registration for you. It does not finish it on the spot, and that is worth knowing so the status you see makes sense.
Kintsugi creates a registration request for the state and it moves into Processing.
The Kintsugi Tax Operations team takes the request to the state tax authority. How long this takes depends on the state.
Once the state issues your permit, the jurisdiction moves to Registered.
Filings for that state begin only after the registration is complete.
Tip: You can follow progress yourself at any time. Open the Monitoring tab to see the status of each jurisdiction, so you do not need to ask us where a registration stands.
Handling States Auto Register Will Not Pick Up
If you have states sitting in Exposed that predate the 30 day window, you can clear them yourself in a couple of minutes each. Pick the route that matches your situation.
If this sounds like you | Do this |
|---|---|
You met nexus recently enough that there is little or no uncollected tax behind it | Submit a standard registration request. See How to Submit a Registration Request. |
Nexus was met a while ago and you may owe tax for past periods | Compare your options before you register. See Standard Registration or a VDA? Choosing the Right Registration Path. |
You want to register somewhere you have not met nexus yet, for example to get a resale certificate | Use the voluntary registration flow. See How to Submit a Registration Request for States Where Nexus Isn't Established. |
How to Turn Off Auto Register
Same path, opposite direction: Configuration > Settings > Auto Register. Switch the toggle off and select Confirm.
Once it is off, you start every registration request yourself. Any request Auto Register already created keeps moving; switching the setting off does not cancel work that is already underway.
FAQs
Q: Does Auto Register work outside the US?
A: No. It covers US states only. If you meet nexus in Canada, the UK, an EU country, Australia, New Zealand, or anywhere else outside the US, start that registration yourself. Several countries also need documents or local details that cannot be gathered automatically.
Q: I just turned it on. Will it register me in the states I am already exposed in?
A: Only if nexus in those states was met within the last 30 days. Anything older stays as it is, and you can start those requests yourself using the options above.
Q: Does Auto Register mean I am registered straight away?
A: No. It starts the request and moves the state into Processing. Our Tax Operations team then works it through with the state, and the state issues the permit.
Q: Do I need a paid plan?
A: Registration requests are available on paid plans. See How to Submit a Registration Request for what to expect on your current plan.
Q: Can I leave Auto Register on but skip one particular state?
A: Yes. If a jurisdiction is flagged and you have decided you do not want to monitor or register there, you can disregard it from the Monitoring tab. Reach out to us if you need that decision reversed later.
Q: Will Auto Register pick up nexus from physical presence, not just sales?
A: Yes. Any US nexus trigger counts, whether it comes from sales volume, transaction count, or physical presence such as an office, staff, or stored inventory.
Need Help?
For further concerns, we're always here to help. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, just reach out to us using the chat in the bottom right corner of your screen.