Zapier Integration

Automate U.S. surplus lines tax calculations with Zapier. Connect to 7,000+ apps with no-code automation. Set up in 5-15 minutes.

Why Use Zapier Integration?

• No Code Required — Build automations with simple point-and-click interface
• 7,000+ App Integrations — Connect to Google Sheets, Slack, Salesforce, HubSpot, and more
• Ready-to-Use Templates — Pre-built Zaps for common insurance workflows
• Instant Calculations — Calculate taxes in under 2 seconds
• 53 Jurisdictions — All 50 states + DC + Puerto Rico + US Virgin Islands
• Historical Rates — Look up tax rates for any past date

Prerequisites

Before using the Zapier integration, ensure you have:

1. Zapier Account

   Free or paid Zapier account. Sign up at zapier.com

2. Surplus Lines Tax API Key

   Get your API key at app.surpluslinesapi.com. New accounts include 100 free queries.

3. Connected Apps (Optional)

   Depending on your use case, you may need connections to Google Sheets, Gmail, webhooks, or other apps.

How It Works

The Zapier app connects your Zaps to the Surplus Lines Tax API with four powerful actions:

Installation

The Surplus Lines Tax API app is available in Zapier and ready to use in your Zaps.

Quick Start

1. Log in to your Zapier account at zapier.com
2. Click Create Zap
3. Choose your trigger (e.g., "New Spreadsheet Row in Google Sheets")
4. Search for "Surplus Lines Tax API" when adding an action
5. Select an action (Calculate Tax, Find Tax Rates, Get States, or Find Historical Tax Rate)
6. Connect your API key when prompted

Configuration

Step 1: Connect Your API Key

1. In your Zap, add a Surplus Lines Tax API action
2. Click Sign in to Surplus Lines Tax API
3. Enter your API key from app.surpluslinesapi.com
4. Click Yes, Continue

Step 2: Configure Action

1. Select your connected account from the dropdown
2. Choose the action (Calculate Tax, Find Tax Rates, Get States, or Find Historical Tax Rate)
3. Map input fields from your trigger or enter values manually
4. Click Continue to test

Testing the Integration

Quick Test

1. Create a new Zap with a Manual Trigger (Zapier by Zapier)
2. Add Surplus Lines Tax API → Calculate Surplus Lines Tax
3. Configure:
   • State: Texas
   • Premium: 10000
4. Click Test action

Expected Result: You should see tax calculation output with Texas tax ($485), stamping fee ($4), and total due ($10,489).

Template: Google Sheets Tax Calculator

Automatically calculate surplus lines taxes for new rows in Google Sheets. Perfect for batch processing policies.

How It Works

Required Google Sheet Columns

• Policy Number - Your policy identifier
• State - State name (e.g., "Texas")
• Premium - Premium amount (numbers only)
• Total Tax - Calculated tax (auto-filled)
• Total Due - Grand total (auto-filled)

Setup Steps

1. Click "Use This Template" above
2. Connect your Google Sheets account
3. Connect your Surplus Lines API key
4. Select your Google Sheet and worksheet
5. Map fields (State → Column B, Premium → Column C)
6. Turn the Zap ON

Template: Quote Request to Email

Send instant professional quotes when prospects submit your form. Includes pre-formatted email template with tax breakdown.

How It Works

Setup Steps

1. Create a Google Form with: Name, Email, State, Premium fields
2. Link form responses to a Google Sheet
3. Click "Use This Template" above
4. Connect Google Forms (select form's spreadsheet)
5. Connect Gmail account
6. Enter API key from surpluslinesapi.com
7. Turn the Zap ON

Workflow: Webhook Integration

Connect any system via HTTP POST to automatically calculate and log results. Universal integration point for custom applications.

Build Steps

1. Create New Zap → Name it "Webhook Tax Calculator"
2. Set Up Trigger - Webhooks by Zapier:
   • Search for "Webhooks by Zapier"
   • Select "Catch Hook"
   • Copy the webhook URL provided
3. Add Action - Surplus Lines Tax API:
   • Select "Calculate Surplus Lines Tax"
   • Map State and Premium from webhook data
4. Add Action - Google Sheets (optional):
   • Log results to a spreadsheet
5. Test and turn ON

Test Your Webhook

curl -X POST YOUR_WEBHOOK_URL \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"state":"California","premium":25000}'

Workflow: Daily Tax Rate Updates

Keep a master rate sheet with all 53 jurisdictions automatically updated every morning. Perfect for compliance tracking.

Build Steps

1. Create New Zap → Name it "Daily Tax Rate Updates"
2. Trigger - Schedule by Zapier:
   • Select "Every Day"
   • Set preferred time (e.g., 9:00 AM)
3. Action - Google Sheets (Clear):
   • Clear existing rate data rows
4. Action - Surplus Lines Tax API:
   • Select "Find Tax Rates"
   • Returns all 53 states with current rates
5. Action - Google Sheets (Create Multiple Rows):
   • Map state data to spreadsheet columns
6. Test and turn ON

Action: Calculate Surplus Lines Tax

Calculate surplus lines tax for any U.S. state and premium amount with detailed breakdowns.

Required Parameters

Optional Parameters

Example Output

{
  "success": true,
  "state": "Texas",
  "state_code": "TX",
  "premium": 10000,
  "total_tax": 503,
  "total_due": 10503,
  "account": {
    "balance": "9.62",
    "free_queries_remaining": 99,
    "was_free_query": false
  }
}

Action: Find Tax Rates

Retrieve current tax rates for all U.S. states and territories, or filter by a specific state.

Optional Parameters

Example Output

{
  "success": true,
  "request_id": "req-1770111587080-zv53yfmdb",
  "count": 53,
  "data": [
    {
      "state": "Alabama",
      "state_code": "AL",
      "tax_rate": "6%",
      "stamping_fee": null,
      "filing_fee": null,
      "service_fee": null,
      "surcharge": null,
      "regulatory_fee": null,
      "fire_marshal_tax": null,
      "slas_clearinghouse_fee": null,
      "flat_fee": null,
      "special_notes": null,
      "payment_frequency": "Annually",
      "legislative_source": "https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/..."
    },
    {
      "state": "Texas",
      "state_code": "TX",
      "tax_rate": "4.85%",
      "stamping_fee": "0.04%",
      "filing_fee": null,
      "service_fee": null,
      "surcharge": null,
      "regulatory_fee": null,
      "fire_marshal_tax": null,
      "slas_clearinghouse_fee": null,
      "flat_fee": null,
      "special_notes": null,
      "payment_frequency": null,
      "legislative_source": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/..."
    }
    // ... remaining 51 states
  ],
  "account": {
    "balance": "9.62",
    "free_queries_remaining": 0,
    "was_free_query": false
  }
}

Action: Get States

Get a list of all supported U.S. states and territories as 2-letter postal codes.

Parameters

None required.

Returns

Array of 2-letter postal codes for all 50 states plus DC, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Example Output

[
  "AL",
  "AK",
  "AZ",
  ...
  "TX",
  ...
  "WY"
]

Action: Find Historical Tax Rate

Look up tax rates that were in effect on a specific date. Perfect for policy audits, renewals, and historical compliance verification.

Parameters

Example Output

[
  {
    "success": true,
    "state": "Texas",
    "state_code": "TX",
    "query_date": "2024-01-02",
    "rate": {
      "tax_rate": "0.0485",
      "stamping_fee": "0.0004",
      "filing_fee": "0.0000",
      "service_fee": "0.0000",
      "surcharge": "0.0000",
      "regulatory_fee": "0.0000",
      "fire_marshal_tax": "0.0000",
      "slas_clearinghouse_fee": "0.0000",
      "flat_fee": "0.00",
      "effective_from": "2024-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
      "effective_to": null,
      "legislative_source": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/IN/htm/IN.225.htm",
      "confidence": "unknown"
    },
    "account": {
      "balance": "0.00",
      "free_queries_remaining": 408,
      "was_free_query": true
    }
  }
]

Output Fields

Use Cases

• Policy Audits — Verify taxes were calculated correctly using rates in effect at policy inception
• Renewals — Compare current rates to prior year rates for renewal quotes
• Compliance — Document historical rate information for regulatory filings
• Retroactive Calculations — Calculate taxes for backdated policies

Troubleshooting

"Authentication failed" error

Your API key is invalid or expired. Verify your key at app.surpluslinesapi.com.

"Insufficient balance" error

Your account balance is depleted. Add funds at app.surpluslinesapi.com.

"Invalid state" error

Use the state dropdown to select a valid state. Do not enter free text.

Zap not triggering

• Verify Zap is ON (toggle in top-right corner)
• Check that your trigger is configured correctly
• For Google Sheets triggers: new rows must be added after the Zap is turned on
• Check Zap history for error messages

States dropdown not loading

Reconnect your API key: click on the account dropdown and select "Reconnect" or add a new connection.

Getting Help

Contact us at support@undtec.com for assistance.

Pricing

Zapier integration usage follows the same pricing as the REST API:

Get Your API Key View Full Documentation