Quick Answer
If you sell architectural paint in any of the 13 U.S. states (plus D.C.) with PaintCare programs, you're required to add a per-container stewardship fee at the point of sale. Fees range from $0.30 to $2.75 depending on the state and container size. Shopify doesn't support conditional per-unit fees by state. Magical Fees lets you add the correct PaintCare fee as a separate line item at checkout — by state, by container size, automatically.
What You Need to Know About PaintCare Fees
PaintCare is a nonprofit stewardship program created by the American Coatings Association. It funds the collection, transportation, and recycling of post-consumer architectural paint — interior and exterior house paint, stains, and coatings.
The fee is not a tax or a deposit. It's a stewardship surcharge added per container at the point of sale. It must be listed separately on invoices. Drop-off at PaintCare collection sites is free for consumers.
Current PaintCare states and rates
Rates vary by state and container size. Here are the current schedules:
California — $0.30 (≤1 gal) · $0.65 (1–2 gal) · $1.50 (2–5 gal)
Colorado — $0.35 (≤1 gal) · $0.75 (1–2 gal) · $1.60 (2–5 gal) (fee increase effective April 1, 2026)
Connecticut — $0.50 (≤1 gal) · $1.15 (1–2 gal) · $2.25 (2–5 gal) (fee increase effective January 1, 2026)
District of Columbia — $0.30 (≤1 gal) · $0.70 (1–2 gal) · $1.60 (2–5 gal)
Illinois — $0.45 (≤1 gal) · $0.95 (1–2 gal) · $1.95 (2–5 gal)
Maine — $0.50 (≤1 gal) · $1.10 (1–2 gal) · $2.00 (2–5 gal) (fee increase effective October 1, 2025)
Maryland — $0.50 (≤1 gal) · $1.15 (1–2 gal) · $2.25 (2–5 gal) (PaintCare program launching April 1, 2026)
Minnesota — $0.49 (≤1 gal) · $0.99 (1–2 gal) · $1.99 (2–5 gal)
New York — $0.45 (≤1 gal) · $0.95 (1–2 gal) · $1.95 (2–5 gal)
Oregon — $0.45 (≤1 gal) · $0.95 (1–2 gal) · $1.95 (2–5 gal)
Rhode Island — $0.35 (≤1 gal) · $0.75 (1–2 gal) · $1.60 (2–5 gal)
Vermont — $0.65 (≤1 gal) · $1.35 (1–2 gal) · $2.45 (2–5 gal)
Washington — $0.65 (≤1 gal) · $1.45 (1–2 gal) · $2.75 (2–5 gal) (highest PaintCare fees in the country, fee increase effective January 1, 2026)
For the latest rates, see PaintCare's fee schedule.
Why Manual Workarounds Don't Cut It
PaintCare fees have two dimensions — state and container size — which makes them harder to handle manually than a simple flat fee. The usual Shopify workarounds all break:
- Raising product prices means you overcharge customers in the 37 states without PaintCare. And you lose the separately stated line item.
- One flat fee for all sizes undercharges on large containers and overcharges on small ones. Neither is compliant.
- Manual order editing might work for a handful of orders, but if you sell paint in multiple states at multiple sizes, you'll miss fees or get the amounts wrong.
How to Set Up PaintCare Fees With Magical Fees
Magical Fees handles the state-by-state, size-by-size logic. Here's the setup.
1. Organize your paint products by container size
In Shopify, group your architectural paint products into collections by container size — for example, "Paint ≤1 Gallon," "Paint 1–2 Gallons," "Paint 2–5 Gallons." This lets you target each fee tier accurately.
2. Create fee rules for each state and size tier
In Magical Fees, create a fixed-price fee for each state/size combination. For example, for California you'd create three rules:
- "PaintCare Fee (CA, ≤1 gal)" — $0.30, targeting your small container collection
- "PaintCare Fee (CA, 1–2 gal)" — $0.65, targeting your medium container collection
- "PaintCare Fee (CA, 2–5 gal)" — $1.50, targeting your large container collection
Set each rule to calculate per unit (per container in the cart), not per order.
3. Add state location conditions
Add a location condition to each rule so it only fires on orders shipping to the correct state. Your California rules apply only to California orders. Your Washington rules apply only to Washington orders. States without PaintCare won't see any charge.
4. Repeat for each state you sell into
Yes, this means more rules if you sell into many PaintCare states. But each rule is simple and takes a minute to set up. The good news: once they're active, you don't need to touch them again until PaintCare updates its fee schedule (which they announce well in advance).
5. Test it
Place test orders for different container sizes shipping to PaintCare states and non-PaintCare states. Verify the correct fee appears as a separate line item, scales with quantity, and doesn't appear where it shouldn't.
Common Questions
What products are covered by PaintCare?
Architectural paint — interior and exterior house paint, stains, primers, sealers, and clear coatings. Industrial coatings, spray paint (aerosols), and artist paints are generally excluded. Check PaintCare's retailer page if you're unsure about a product.
Do you charge sales tax on the PaintCare fee?
This varies by state. In some states the fee is subject to sales tax; in others it's not. Check your state's guidance or ask your tax advisor.
What if PaintCare updates its fee schedule?
PaintCare announces rate changes in advance — typically with a few months' notice. When rates change, update the fee amounts in your Magical Fees rules. No other changes needed.
What are the penalties for not collecting the fee?
Retailers operating in PaintCare states are required to participate and charge the fee. Non-compliance can result in enforcement actions from state environmental agencies, including fines and cease-and-desist orders.
Further Reading
Always label deposits separately for compliance
Display bottle deposit fees as a clearly labeled, separate line item at checkout and on receipts. This meets regulatory transparency requirements, builds customer trust by showing exactly what they're paying, and makes it significantly easier to track deposits for reporting and audits. Use a clear label like "Bottle deposit" or "Container deposit (CRV)" so customers immediately understand the charge.
“Magical Fees is the only fee app that allows you to apply a fee based on a specific or individual state/province situation. All the other apps we tested only allow 'Location' (the entire country) which is a major limitation. The solution Magical Fees applies during the Cart to Checkout process is very smart and not a hassle. Very easy app to setup and the support was great.”