CSV exports
Why TaxPack escapes formula-like CSV text
A stored label or identifier beginning with a formula character can be interpreted as a command by spreadsheet software.
Inspect the source record
Inspect suspicious text columns in a copy of the CSV and compare them with the source WooCommerce record.
Build a focused report
Keep the original TaxPack export; its CSV writer prefixes formula-like text so spreadsheet import treats it as text.
Read the result
The protective prefix is a safety measure for user-controlled strings, not a change to the numeric tax line.
A concrete example
A tax label beginning with an equals sign may gain a leading apostrophe in the CSV while its rate ID and amount remain intact.
Avoid this mistaken conclusion
Do not remove the protective prefix from an untrusted export merely to make a label look prettier in a spreadsheet.
Official references
These focused notes were drafted with AI assistance and checked against TaxPack behavior and the linked documentation.
These guides explain reporting workflows. TaxPack does not provide tax advice, calculate tax payable, or file returns.