---
project: pbs-woocommerce-golive
type: session-notes
status: completed
tags:
  - pbs
  - wordpress
  - woocommerce
  - production
  - stripe
  - paypal
created: 2026-03-22
updated: 2026-03-22
path: PBS/Tech/Sessions/
---

# WooCommerce Go-Live: Payment & Tax Setup

## Session Summary
Flipped the PBS shop from staging/test mode to fully live production
payments. Configured Stripe and PayPal for live transactions, registered
for Virginia sales tax, set up Stripe Tax for automated tax calculation,
and completed a successful end-to-end test purchase.

## What Was Completed

### Stripe - Live Mode
- Disabled test mode in WooCommerce Stripe settings
- Connected live API keys (pk_live / sk_live) from Stripe Dashboard
- Stripe handles Google Pay and Apple Pay natively — no extra config needed

### PayPal - Live Mode
- Disabled sandbox/test mode
- Connected live PayPal business account
- Disabled Google Pay and Apple Pay in PayPal settings (Stripe handles
those)

### Payment Responsibility
- Stripe: Credit/debit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay
- PayPal: PayPal balance and PayPal Credit only
- No duplicate payment method buttons at checkout

### Virginia Sales Tax Registration
- Registered with Virginia Department of Taxation via iReg
- Virginia Account Number: 10-413414875F-001
- Filing Frequency: Monthly (ST-1 form)
- Beginning Liability Date: 03/2026
- First filing due: April 20, 2026 (even if $0 in tax collected)
- Must file every month even with no sales — penalty for missed filings

### Stripe Tax Configuration
- Stripe Tax plugin handling automated tax calculation
- Virginia registration added to Stripe Dashboard → Tax → Registrations
- Default product tax code: Electronically Supplied Services (1000000000)
- Digital cookbook product code: Electronically Supplied Services
(1000000000)
- Digital products are currently tax-exempt in Virginia (and most US states)
- Dashboard automatic tax enabled for any invoices/payment links created in
Stripe

### Tax Nexus Notes
- Only registered in Virginia (physical presence = mandatory regardless of
thresholds)
- No need to register in other states currently — digital products are
exempt in most states
- Stripe monitors nexus thresholds and will alert when registration needed
in other states
- Virginia legislature considering HB 900 to tax digital goods — monitor
for changes
- When physical products are added (merch, printed cookbook), revisit
default tax code and nexus obligations

### Test Transaction
- Completed a real end-to-end purchase of the digital cookbook
- Confirmed: order confirmation email received
- Confirmed: order visible in WooCommerce → Orders
- Confirmed: payment visible in Stripe Dashboard
- Confirmed: digital cookbook download/delivery worked
- First official PBS sale! 🎉

## Ongoing Obligations

- [ ] File VA ST-1 monthly by the 20th (first due April 20, 2026)
- [ ] Keep VA account number and sales tax certificate permanently
- [ ] Keep copies of filed returns for 3 years
- [ ] Monitor Stripe Tax "Needs attention" tab for nexus alerts in other
states
- [ ] Watch for Virginia HB 900 (digital goods tax bill) status
- [ ] When adding physical products: update default tax code to General
Tangible Goods (999999999)

## Shop Page Updates
- Banner for cookbook promotion: use Container (Row direction) with Heading
+ Text Editor on left, Button widget on right
- Background color: PBS green #3E6B41
- Check responsive/mobile view after building

## NAICS Code
- 454110 — Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses (used for VA tax
registration)