I am currently using the Shopify Advanced plan and need to implement a B2B / B2C distinction based on customer tags. I have successfully customized the price display throughout the store using Liquid code.
However, the main challenge is the checkout process. I need to ensure that taxes are displayed separately in the checkout summary for B2B customers with a specific tag. Specifically, the checkout summary should show a subtotal without taxes, a line for “Taxes” separately, and then a grand total.
For B2C customers without the tag, the standard tax-inclusive display should apply, with taxes included in the subtotal and a clear indication.
Is there a way to achieve this using other Shopify features or well established apps? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
Dear @kai4s
This is a classic challenge that many growing merchants face on Shopify. I’ve spent a lot of time navigating the technical boundaries between the Advanced and Plus plans, and I’d love to share some insights to help you weigh your options.
1. The “Checkout Wall” (Hard Technical Limit)
On the Shopify Advanced plan, the checkout is essentially a “black box” regarding tax logic. While you’ve successfully used Liquid to customize the price display on Product and Cart pages, the Checkout uses Shopify’s core Tax Engine.
Currently, Shopify does not allow any theme code or third-party apps to dynamically toggle the “Tax Inclusive/Exclusive” setting at checkout based on a Customer Tag for non-Plus plans. It is a global setting for the entire store.
2. The Risk of “Workarounds”
You might find apps that claim to solve for advanced version. But, in my experience, these often lead to:
Discount Conflicts: They frequently break standard Shopify discount codes.
Tracking Issues: Redirections can mess up your conversion data in GA4 or Facebook Pixels.
UX Friction: B2B customers might see prices “flicker” from inclusive to exclusive during the transition to checkout, which can look unprofessional for Government or Corporate clients.
3. Why Shopify Plus is the “Golden Path” for this specific need The reason most B2B-heavy businesses eventually move to Shopify Plus for this exact scenario is Checkout Extensibility and Native B2B Features:
Company Profiles: Plus allows you to create “Companies” rather than just tagging customers. You can set a Company to be “Tax Exempt” or assign them a specific Price Catalog that is natively tax-exclusive.
Native Tax Logic: Because it’s a native feature, the subtotal, tax line, and grand total will be calculated perfectly every time without any “app hacks.”
Stability: Your accounting and reporting will be 100% accurate, which is crucial when dealing with B2B audits.
My Advice:
If your B2B volume is growing and professional tax presentation is a “must-have,” Shopify Plus is truly the only way to achieve this cleanly and maintainably. Trying to “patch” this on the Advanced plan often ends up costing more in developer hours and lost conversions than the upgrade itself.
I hope this helps clarify the roadmap for your store!