diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-api/.env.example b/apps/edr-freight-api/.env.example
index a11b98520..0df076f57 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-api/.env.example
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-api/.env.example
@@ -164,8 +164,8 @@ EIMS_SELLER_LOCALITY=
 # Tax treatment — REQUIRES FINANCE SIGN-OFF. The application models no tax at all
 # (invoice.taxAmount is always 0), so nothing here is defaulted: registration fails
 # locally, naming the missing variables, until these are set.
-EIMS_TAX_CODE=
-EIMS_TAX_RATE_PERCENT=
+EIMS_TAX_CODE=0
+EIMS_TAX_RATE_PERCENT=0
 EIMS_EXCISE_TAX_VALUE=0
 EIMS_INCOME_WITHHOLD_VALUE=0
 EIMS_TRANSACTION_WITHHOLD_VALUE=0