Stripe Tax API MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that interacts with the Stripe Tax API to retrieve and modify tax settings and calculations.

Installation

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v16 or higher)
• npm (v6 or higher)
• A Stripe account with API access

Installation Steps

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd stripe-tax-api-mcp-server
   

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

   (you may need to run npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk too)

3. Configure environment variables:

   cp .env.example .env
   

4. Edit the .env file to add your Stripe API key:

   STRIPE_API_KEY=sk_test_your_test_key_here
   

5. Start the server:

   npm start
   

Configuration Options

The server can be configured using environment variables:

1. Stripe API Key:
   • Set your API key in the .env file as STRIPE_API_KEY
   • Alternatively, you can provide the API key when calling each tool
   • For production use, use a restricted API key with only tax-related permissions
   • In development, you can use a test API key from Stripe's dashboard

Special installation steps for Claude Desktop

• Edit the claude_desktop_config.json file (Claude -> Settings -> Developer -> Edit Config)
• Paste this:

"stripe-tax": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/<PATH_TO_YOUR_CLONED>/stripe-tax-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "STRIPE_API_KEY": "sk_test_51PWT2cKaxbmGncEi4MIZD9Ql11WqQj4BiuWG05DxupTVfN945amHT4zDNPtQpqvotCxrh186SKKIamtgngowdXlh00a2RKMlqW"
      }
    }

Usage Examples

This MCP server provides tools for interacting with Stripe Tax API for settings, calculations, and product tax code associations.

Tools

1. getTaxSettings

Retrieves current tax settings from Stripe.

Parameters:

• apiKey (optional): Your Stripe API key. If not provided, the API key from the environment variable will be used.

Example:

{
  "name": "getTaxSettings",
  "arguments": {}
}

Example with API key:

{
  "name": "getTaxSettings",
  "arguments": {
    "apiKey": "sk_test_your_stripe_key"
  }
}

Response:

{
  "default_tax_jurisdiction": "US",
  "head_office": {
    "address": {
      "country": "US",
      "line1": "123 Main St",
      "city": "San Francisco",
      "state": "CA",
      "postal_code": "94105"
    }
  },
  "tax_id": {
    "type": "us_ein",
    "value": "12-3456789"
  },
  "status": {
    "active": true
  }
}

2. updateTaxSettings

Updates tax settings in Stripe.

Parameters:

• apiKey (optional): Your Stripe API key. If not provided, the API key from the environment variable will be used.
• settings: An object containing tax settings to update
  • default_tax_jurisdiction: Default country for tax calculation
  • head_office: Company address information
  • tax_id: Tax identification information

Example using environment variable API key:

{
  "name": "updateTaxSettings",
  "arguments": {
    "settings": {
      "default_tax_jurisdiction": "CA",
      "tax_id": {
        "type": "ca_bn",
        "value": "123456789"
      }
    }
  }
}

Example with explicit API key:

{
  "name": "updateTaxSettings",
  "arguments": {
    "apiKey": "sk_test_your_stripe_key",
    "settings": {
      "default_tax_jurisdiction": "CA",
      "tax_id": {
        "type": "ca_bn",
        "value": "123456789"
      }
    }
  }
}

3. retrieveTaxCalculation

Retrieves a tax calculation from Stripe by its ID.

Parameters:

• apiKey (optional): Your Stripe API key. If not provided, the API key from the environment variable will be used.
• calculationId: The ID of the tax calculation to retrieve

Example using environment variable API key:

{
  "name": "retrieveTaxCalculation",
  "arguments": {
    "calculationId": "taxcalc_12345"
  }
}

Example with explicit API key:

{
  "name": "retrieveTaxCalculation",
  "arguments": {
    "apiKey": "sk_test_your_stripe_key",
    "calculationId": "taxcalc_12345"
  }
}

Response:

{
  "id": "taxcalc_12345",
  "object": "tax.calculation",
  "amount_total": 1090,
  "currency": "usd",
  "customer_details": {
    "address": {
      "country": "US",
      "line1": "123 Main St",
      "city": "San Francisco",
      "state": "CA",
      "postal_code": "94105"
    },
    "address_source": "shipping",
    "tax_ids": []
  },
  "line_items_subtotal_amount": 1000,
  "shipping_cost_subtotal_amount": 0,
  "tax_amount_exclusive": 90,
  "tax_amount_inclusive": 0,
  "tax_breakdown": [
    {
      "amount": 60,
      "jurisdiction": "California",
      "sourcing": "destination",
      "tax_type": "sales_tax"
    },
    {
      "amount": 30,
      "jurisdiction": "San Francisco",
      "sourcing": "destination", 
      "tax_type": "local_tax"
    }
  ],
  "tax_date": "2023-01-15",
  "expires_at": 1673913600
}

4. createTaxCalculation

Creates a new tax calculation in Stripe.

Parameters:

• apiKey (optional): Your Stripe API key. If not provided, the API key from the environment variable will be used.
• params: Object containing parameters for the tax calculation:
  • currency: The currency for the calculation (e.g., 'usd')
  • customer_details: Customer information including address and optional tax IDs
  • line_items: Array of line items with amounts and optional tax codes

Example using environment variable API key:

{
  "name": "createTaxCalculation",
  "arguments": {
    "params": {
      "currency": "usd",
      "customer_details": {
        "address": {
          "country": "US",
          "line1": "123 Main St",
          "city": "San Francisco",
          "state": "CA",
          "postal_code": "94105"
        },
        "address_source": "shipping",
        "tax_ids": [
          {
            "type": "us_ein",
            "value": "12-3456789"
          }
        ]
      },
      "line_items": [
        {
          "amount": 1000,
          "reference": "product_123",
          "tax_code": "txcd_30060006",
          "tax_behavior": "exclusive"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Example with explicit API key:

{
  "name": "createTaxCalculation",
  "arguments": {
    "apiKey": "sk_test_your_stripe_key",
    "params": {
      "currency": "usd",
      "customer_details": {
        "address": {
          "country": "US",
          "line1": "123 Main St",
          "city": "San Francisco",
          "state": "CA",
          "postal_code": "94105"
        },
        "address_source": "shipping",
        "tax_ids": [
          {
            "type": "us_ein",
            "value": "12-3456789"
          }
        ]
      },
      "line_items": [
        {
          "amount": 1000,
          "reference": "product_123",
          "tax_code": "txcd_30060006",
          "tax_behavior": "exclusive"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Response:

{
  "id": "taxcalc_12345",
  "object": "tax.calculation",
  "amount_total": 1090,
  "currency": "usd",
  "customer_details": {
    "address": {
      "country": "US",
      "line1": "123 Main St",
      "city": "San Francisco",
      "state": "CA",
      "postal_code": "94105"
    },
    "tax_ids": [
      {
        "type": "us_ein",
        "value": "12-3456789"
      }
    ]
  },
  "line_items_subtotal_amount": 1000,
  "shipping_cost_subtotal_amount": 0,
  "tax_amount_exclusive": 90,
  "tax_amount_inclusive": 0,
  "tax_breakdown": [
    {
      "amount": 60,
      "jurisdiction": "California",
      "sourcing": "destination",
      "tax_type": "sales_tax"
    },
    {
      "amount": 30,
      "jurisdiction": "San Francisco",
      "sourcing": "destination", 
      "tax_type": "local_tax"
    }
  ],
  "tax_date": "2023-01-15",
  "expires_at": 1673913600
}

5. listTaxCalculationLineItems

Retrieves line items for a tax calculation from Stripe by its ID.

Parameters:

• apiKey (optional): Your Stripe API key. If not provided, the API key from the environment variable will be used.
• calculationId: The ID of the tax calculation to retrieve line items for
• limit (optional): Maximum number of line items to return
• starting_after (optional): Pagination cursor for continuing from a previous list
• ending_before (optional): Pagination cursor for returning results before this ID

Example using environment variable API key:

{
  "name": "listTaxCalculationLineItems",
  "arguments": {
    "calculationId": "taxcalc_12345",
    "limit": 3
  }
}

Example with explicit API key:

{
  "name": "listTaxCalculationLineItems",
  "arguments": {
    "apiKey": "sk_test_your_stripe_key",
    "calculationId": "taxcalc_12345",
    "limit": 3
  }
}

Response:

{
  "object": "list",
  "url": "/v1/tax/calculations/taxcalc_12345/line_items",
  "has_more": false,
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "li_1NpJD42eZvKYlo2CxyzABC",
      "object": "tax.calculation_line_item",
      "amount": 1000,
      "amount_tax": 100,
      "livemode": false,
      "product": "prod_12345",
      "quantity": 1,
      "reference": "product_123",
      "tax_behavior": "exclusive",
      "tax_breakdown": [
        {
          "amount": 70,
          "jurisdiction": "California",
          "sourcing": "destination",
          "tax_rate_details": {
            "percentage_decimal": "0.07",
            "tax_type": "sales_tax"
          },
          "taxability_reason": "standard",
          "taxable_amount": 1000
        },
        {
          "amount": 30,
          "jurisdiction": "San Francisco",
          "sourcing": "destination",
          "tax_rate_details": {
            "percentage_decimal": "0.03",
            "tax_type": "local_tax"
          },
          "taxability_reason": "standard",
          "taxable_amount": 1000
        }
      ],
      "tax_code": "txcd_30060006",
      "taxable_amount": 1000
    }
  ]
}

6. updateProductTaxCode

Updates a product in Stripe to associate a tax code with it.

Parameters:

• apiKey (optional): Your Stripe API key. If not provided, the API key from the environment variable will be used.
• productId: The ID of the product to update
• taxCode: The tax code to associate with the product (e.g., 'txcd_30060006')

Example using environment variable API key:

{
  "name": "updateProductTaxCode",
  "arguments": {
    "productId": "prod_123456",
    "taxCode": "txcd_30060006"
  }
}

Example with explicit API key:

{
  "name": "updateProductTaxCode",
  "arguments": {
    "apiKey": "sk_test_your_stripe_key",
    "productId": "prod_123456",
    "taxCode": "txcd_30060006"
  }
}

Response:

{
  "id": "prod_123456",
  "object": "product",
  "active": true,
  "created": 1681234567,
  "description": "Premium Widget",
  "images": [],
  "tax_code": "txcd_30060006",
  "name": "Widget Pro",
  "updated": 1681234789
}

7. getProductTaxCode

Retrieves a product from Stripe and its associated tax code.

Parameters:

• apiKey (optional): Your Stripe API key. If not provided, the API key from the environment variable will be used.
• productId: The ID of the product to retrieve

Example using environment variable API key:

{
  "name": "getProductTaxCode",
  "arguments": {
    "productId": "prod_123456"
  }
}

Example with explicit API key:

{
  "name": "getProductTaxCode",
  "arguments": {
    "apiKey": "sk_test_your_stripe_key",
    "productId": "prod_123456"
  }
}

Response:

{
  "product": {
    "id": "prod_123456",
    "object": "product",
    "active": true,
    "created": 1681234567,
    "description": "Premium Widget",
    "images": [],
    "tax_code": "txcd_30060006",
    "name": "Widget Pro",
    "updated": 1681234789
  },
  "tax_code": "txcd_30060006",
  "has_tax_code": true
}

Resources

The server provides the following resources:

1. stripe-tax://info: General information about Stripe Tax
2. stripe-tax://documentation: References to Stripe Tax documentation

Prompts

The server offers the following prompts:

1. get-tax-settings: A prompt for retrieving tax settings
2. update-tax-settings: A prompt for updating tax settings
3. retrieve-tax-calculation: A prompt for retrieving a tax calculation by ID
4. create-tax-calculation: A prompt for creating a new tax calculation
5. list-tax-calculation-line-items: A prompt for retrieving line items for a tax calculation by ID
6. update-product-tax-code: A prompt for updating a product with a tax code
7. get-product-tax-code: A prompt for retrieving a product's tax code

Common Troubleshooting

API Authentication Issues

Problem: Getting "Authentication failed" errors when using the tools.

Solution:

• Make sure your API key is valid and properly formatted
• Check if the API key has the required permissions
• For restricted keys, ensure they have access to tax endpoints

Rate Limiting

Problem: API requests are being rejected with rate limit errors.

Solution:

• Implement exponential backoff for retry logic
• Reduce the frequency of API calls
• Consider upgrading your Stripe account if you need higher limits

Data Validation Errors

Problem: The server rejects your tax settings update.

Solution:

• Ensure all required fields are provided with the correct format
• Check country codes are valid ISO codes (e.g., "US", "CA", "GB")
• Verify tax ID types match the expected format for the given jurisdiction

API Key Issues

Problem: "No API key provided" error message.

Solution:

• Make sure you've created an .env file with your STRIPE_API_KEY set
• Or provide the API key directly when calling the methods
• Verify the API key has permissions for Stripe Tax operations

Connection Issues

Problem: Unable to connect to the MCP server.

Solution:

• Verify the server is running (check for console output)
• Check that your client correctly implements the MCP protocol
• Try using the MCP Inspector tool to debug the connection
• Ensure the path in your claude_desktop_config.json is correct

Security Considerations

• Never hardcode your Stripe API key in your code
• Use environment variables via the .env file for storing your API key
• In production, use restricted API keys with only the permissions needed
• Consider implementing API key rotation for enhanced security
• Add .env to your .gitignore file to prevent accidentally committing your API keys