There may be instances where you need to override a tax rate depending on your business requirements.
The examples here provide guidance on overriding a rate for a specific jurisdiction and a specific jurisdiction with a psCode. If you need assistance building your rule, please contact our support team: support@ceretax.com.
Process Control Transaction
To ensure you have the correct values to create your rule, we recommend first creating a test transaction with the Tax Calculator, then view the transaction in your Transactions > Sales screen to locate the specific tax to utilize for the rule. For guidance on running a test transaction, please refer to our Tax Calculator article.
You may need to add additional columns to your view, see Utilizing the Transactions Screen for more details and guidance on customizing your view.
Using this transaction as a baseline, psCode 10010100 returns the following rates and jurisdictions for this address in Long Beach, CA:
Override Rate for a Specific Jurisdiction
To override a rate for a specific jurisdiction, the Authority name can be used to apply a general override. However, this is only applicable in cases where there is one type of tax.
For example, using our control example, there is one line of Tax Type for the State of California and three lines of Tax Type for Los Angeles County. The rule example here will override the Authority State of California from 6% to 2%.
Create Rule Type
Before creating the rule, create the Rule Type:
Rules > Manage Rule Types
Click on + Rule Type
Create Rule Type
Input a name for your rule
Ensure Tax Tier is selected for the Rule Level
Click Create Rule Type
After the Rule Type is created, you'll be navigated back to the Rule Type screen
Locate the newly created Rule Type and click the pencil icon to add Criteria and Action elements
Under Available Element, locate the following elements and drag and drop them into the appropriate fields (if using the search bar, the search bar is case sensitive)
Criteria Element
authority.authName
Action Element
taxRate
Click Save Elements
Create Rule
Navigate to Rules > Manage Rules
Click on Set-up New Rule
Rule Name and Description
Input descriptive values to allow you to manage the rules functionality
Start and End Effective Dates
Input appropriate dates for your needs
Rule Type
Select previously created Rule Type
Status
Select Active
Criteria
Select + Add Criteria
Criteria Element: authority.authName
Operator: Equals
Select Value: Input Authority name as it appears in the control transaction
STATE OF CALIFORNIA is used in our example
Select Add Criteria
Actions
Action Element: taxRate
Select Value: Input new rate in decimal format
0.02 (2%) is used in our example
Select Add Action
After all fields are complete, select Save Rule
To verify the rule is working as expected, process another test transaction with the Tax Calculator. With the rule setup and enabled, the State of California now reflects the rate of 2% as expected:
Override Rate for a Specific Jurisdiction and psCode
To override a rate for a specific jurisdiction, only applicable for a specific psCode, the Authority name can be in conjunction with additional Criteria elements.
The rule example here will override the Authority State of California from 6% to 1.23% only for psCode 10010100.
Create Rule Type
Before creating the rule, create the Rule Type:
Rules > Manage Rule Types
Click on + Rule Type
Create Rule Type
Input a name for your rule
Ensure Tax Tier is selected for the Rule Type
Click Create Rule Type
After the Rule Type is created, you'll be navigated back to the Rule Type screen
Locate the newly created Rule Type and click the pencil icon to add Criteria and Action elements
Under Available Element, locate the following elements and drag and drop them into the appropriate fields (if using the search bar, the search bar is case sensitive)
Criteria Element
authority.authName
psCode
taxType
taxLevel
Action Element
taxRate
Click Save Elements
Create Rule
Navigate to Rules > Manage Rules
Click on Set-up New Rule
Rule Name and Description
Input descriptive values to allow you to manage the rules functionality
Start and End Effective Dates
Input appropriate dates for your needs
Rule Type
Select previously created RuleType
Status
Select Active
Criteria
Select + Add criteria
Criteria Element: authority.authName
Operator: Equals
Select Value: Input Authority name as it appears in the control transaction
STATE OF CALIFORNIA is used in our example
Select Add Criteria
Select + Add criteria again and repeat steps for the remaining criteria elements with the following:
Criteria Element: pscode
Operator: Equals
Enter psCode
10010100 is used in our example
Select Save Criteria
Criteria Element: taxLevel
Operator: Equals
Select Value: Select jurisdiction level
2 - State/Province is used in our example
Select Save Criteria
Criteria Element: taxType
Operator: Equals
Select Value: Select tax type
130- Sales Tax is used in our example
Select Save Criteria
Actions
Action Element: taxRate
Select Value: Input new rate in decimal format
0.0123 (1.23%) is used in our example
Select Add Action
After all fields are complete, select Save Rule
To verify the rule is working as expected, process another test transaction with the Tax Calculator. With the rule set up and enabled, the State of California now reflects the rate of 1.23% as expected only for psCode 10010100 in Line 1 (green highlight). Line 2 with psCode 13010100 is calculating at the normal 6% rate (yellow highlight).
