How to Remove Taxes and Shipping Calculated at Checkout in WooCommerce
Introduction:
WooCommerce, the leading e-commerce platform for WordPress, provides a robust system for calculating and displaying taxes and shipping costs during the checkout process. While transparency is generally good, there are scenarios where you might want to remove these calculations from the checkout page until a customer provides their address or proceeds to the final payment stage. This could be due to offering free shipping within a specific region, having complex shipping rules that require accurate location data, or simply wanting to streamline the initial checkout experience.
This article will guide you through various methods to achieve this, covering both code-based and plugin-based solutions. We’ll also discuss the potential drawbacks of hiding this information upfront, so you can make an informed decision for your WooCommerce store.
Main Methods for Removing Taxes and Shipping Calculations
There are several approaches to removing taxes and shipping calculations from the WooCommerce checkout page until the user provides their address. Let’s explore the most common and effective methods:
1. Using WooCommerce Settings (Limited Control)
WooCommerce’s built-in settings offer some limited control over the display of taxes and shipping. However, it doesn’t provide a direct “remove until address” option. You can only generally control the display of these calculations.
* Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > General:
* Ensure you’ve set your “Selling location(s)” correctly.
* Configure your “Default customer location” to “Shop base address” or “Geolocate” (without caching).
* Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping:
* Ensure you have your shipping zones configured properly.
* Consider using “Hide shipping costs until an address is entered” option (found in Shipping Options tab). Note: this only hides the *cost* of shipping, not the entire shipping section.
While these settings provide a basic level of control, they often don’t achieve the desired result of completely removing the calculations until an address is entered. Therefore, code or a plugin might be required.
2. Implementing Code Snippets in `functions.php`
This method involves adding custom code to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a dedicated plugin for code snippets. Always back up your website before making changes to your theme files.
#### a. Hiding the Shipping Section Before Address Input
This code snippet will hide the entire shipping section until the customer enters their address information.
add_filter( 'woocommerce_shipping_calculator_enable_postcode', '__return_false' ); add_filter( 'woocommerce_shipping_calculator_enable_city', '__return_false' ); add_filter( 'woocommerce_shipping_calculator_enable_state', '__return_false' );
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_cart_needs_shipping_address’, ‘__return_true’ );
Explanation:
- `woocommerce_shipping_calculator_enable_postcode`, `woocommerce_shipping_calculator_enable_city`, `woocommerce_shipping_calculator_enable_state`: These filters disable the postcode, city, and state fields in the shipping calculator, effectively requiring the user to proceed to the checkout page to input their full address.
- `woocommerce_cart_needs_shipping_address`: This ensures that WooCommerce always requests a shipping address, triggering the shipping calculation process after the address is entered.
#### b. Hiding Both Taxes and Shipping Calculations Before Address Input (More Complex)
This requires a more intricate approach and might involve overriding template files or using JavaScript. It’s generally not recommended for beginners. Here’s a simplified example, but thorough testing is essential:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_cart_totals_before_shipping', 'hide_tax_shipping_before_address' ); add_filter( 'woocommerce_cart_totals_shipping_html', 'hide_tax_shipping_before_address' ); add_filter( 'woocommerce_cart_totals_after_shipping', 'hide_tax_shipping_before_address' );
function hide_tax_shipping_before_address( $html ) {
if ( ! isset( WC()->customer ) || empty( WC()->customer->get_shipping_postcode() ) ) {
return ”; // Hide the content
}
return $html; // Show the content
}
Explanation:
- This code hooks into the `woocommerce_cart_totals_before_shipping`, `woocommerce_cart_totals_shipping_html`, and `woocommerce_cart_totals_after_shipping` filters.
- It checks if the customer’s shipping postcode is set. If not (meaning the address hasn’t been entered), it returns an empty string, effectively hiding the shipping information.
- If the postcode *is* set, it returns the original HTML, displaying the shipping information.
Important Considerations:
- This code might require adjustments depending on your theme and installed plugins.
- Consider using conditional logic to only apply this to specific products or shipping zones if needed.
- Always test thoroughly in a staging environment before implementing on your live site.
3. Using a Plugin
Several WooCommerce plugins can help you control the display of taxes and shipping during checkout. These plugins often provide a user-friendly interface and more advanced features. Here are a couple of examples (but always do your own research and choose a reputable plugin):
* Conditional Shipping and Payments: This plugin allows you to set conditions based on various factors, including customer location, to control shipping and payment options. You could use it to hide shipping calculations until a specific region is selected.
* WooCommerce Hide Shipping Methods: While primarily focused on hiding specific shipping methods, some plugins offer options to conditionally hide the entire shipping section.
Advantages of Using a Plugin:
- Ease of Use: Plugins typically provide a user-friendly interface, eliminating the need to write code.
- Advanced Features: Plugins often come with additional features like conditional logic, specific shipping zone control, and more.
- Regular Updates: Reputable plugins are regularly updated to ensure compatibility with the latest WooCommerce versions.
Potential Drawbacks of Hiding Taxes and Shipping Upfront
While hiding taxes and shipping calculations might seem appealing, consider these potential drawbacks:
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- Frustration: Some customers prefer to see Explore this article on How To Add Product In Woocommerce Plugin In WordPress the Read more about How To Add Additional Columns In Products Woocommerce full cost upfront, including taxes and shipping. Hiding this information can lead to frustration and cart abandonment.
- Misleading Prices: Customers might assume the displayed price is the final price and be surprised by additional costs at checkout.
- Reduced Transparency: Lack of transparency can erode trust and make customers hesitant to complete the purchase.
Therefore, carefully weigh the pros and cons before implementing this change. Consider A/B testing different approaches to determine what works best for your specific audience and product offering.
Conclusion
Removing taxes and shipping calculations from the WooCommerce checkout page until the customer provides their address can streamline the initial shopping experience in certain scenarios. We’ve covered several methods, including WooCommerce settings, code snippets, and plugins. Remember to choose the method that best suits your technical skills and specific requirements. Crucially, always test thoroughly and consider the potential drawbacks before implementing any changes on your live store. By carefully evaluating your options and understanding the implications, you can optimize your checkout process for both customer satisfaction and increased conversions.
