What is cache-tax?
cache-tax is a Claude Code mod by karanb192 that a Claude Code mod that keeps the one-hour prompt cache warm during breaks and stops a cold send once with its estimated rewrite cost. Warming uses model requests and costs tokens. Requires. It is listed under Cost & usage and has 204 GitHub stars.
| Type | Claude code mod |
|---|---|
| Author | karanb192 |
| Repository | karanb192/cache-tax |
| Popularity | 204 GitHub stars |
| Category | Cost & usage |
| Security | Review before installing (72/100) |
| Rank | #95 of 5,272 Claude Code mods; #15 in Cost & usage |
| License | MIT |
| Last commit | 2026-10-17 |
| Stars this week | +62 |
| Hooks | 9 events |
| Sees | classic hooks, compaction, every prompt |
| Draws on | AbovePrompt |
Is cache-tax safe to install?
cache-tax scores 72/100 on the MCPMods security check: Review before installing. Things to review: reads environment variables; watches every prompt or event. It passed 5 of 8 checks.
Mod footprints come from claude plugin validate, which lists every event a mod hooks and every API call it makes without running it.
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| No network access | Pass |
| Starts no processes | Pass |
| Writes no files or config | Pass |
| Reads environment variables | Review |
| Watches every prompt or event | Review |
| Drives Claude (model calls, prompts) | Note |
| Passes claude plugin validate | Pass |
| Has an open-source license | Pass |
API calls in its code
| Call | What it means |
|---|---|
$.clock.after | |
$.clock.now | |
$.command.list | |
$.command.register | |
$.config.list | |
$.env.get | reads env vars |
$.model.fork | drives Claude |
$.session.id | |
$.session.model | |
$.session.usage | |
$.store.delete | keeps its own state |
$.store.get | keeps its own state |
$.store.set | keeps its own state |
$.ui.invalidate | draws interface |
$.ui.log | draws interface |
$.ui.resolve | draws interface |
$.ui.status | draws interface |
How do I install cache-tax?
- Check your Claude Code version. Mods need Claude Code 2.1.287 or later and are on by default.
claude --version
- Read its footprint. This lists every event it hooks and every API call it makes, without running it.
git clone https://github.com/karanb192/cache-tax claude plugin validate ./cache-tax/.
- Install it. Run this in your terminal, then /reload-plugins in an open session.
git clone https://github.com/karanb192/cache-tax && claude --plugin-dir ./cache-tax/.
Or ask Claude to set it up
Paste this into Claude Code and it installs cache-tax for you:
Install the "cache-tax" Claude Code mod from https://github.com/karanb192/cache-tax. Run claude plugin validate on it first and show me what it can access before you enable it.