# Request a certificate

Source: https://developer.avalara.com/avatax-dm-combined-erp/document-management/dm-use-cases/test-request-certificate/

# Request a certificate

The previous example showed that no exemption certificates were on file for the newly created customer. Use the [CreateCertExpressInvitation](https://developer.avalara.com/api-reference/avatax/rest/v2/methods/CertExpressInvites/CreateCertExpressInvitation/) API to request documents from your customers. The example below shows how to send a request to your newly created company. This request includes:

-   The recipient email address
-   A cover letter to include in the email
-   The exposure zone for which you want the customer to provide a valid certificate
-   An exempt reason to prepopulate in the certificate
-   An email delivery method

After the customer provides an exemption certificate, AvaTax automatically applies that document to the customer record and marks the customer as exempt.

```
curl    -X POST    -H 'Accept: application/json'    -H 'Authorization: Basic ${btoa(`:`)}'    -H 'Content-Type: application/json'    --data '{      "recipient": "alice.smith@example.org",      "coverLetterTitle": "STANDARD_REQUEST",      "exposureZones": [        132      ],      "exemptReasons": [        55      ],      "deliveryMethod": "Email"    }'    'https://sandbox-rest.avatax.com/api/v2/companies/365522/customers/NewExemptCustomer/certexpressinvites'
```

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