How to configure multi-level tax rate for NYS?

[Eric Nash]

There is a new rule on the sales tax rate in NYS, and I'm trying to configure it on Zen Cart, but don't know how to do. I could not find any threads on the similar issue. All I see is on Multi-region (zone), but this one is one zone, but multi-level of rates. Here is the detail:

Now, we have a new rules.

Here is the link to get better understanding : http://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/memos/sales/m10_16s.pdf

Please see below for the summary and example:

- 8.875 % tax apply to merchandise value $110.00 and up
- 4.375 % tax apply to merchandise value $44.99 up to $109.99.
- 0% for merchandise value $ 44.99 and below
- All taxes apply individually : for example, if someone buy 5 pieces merchandise at 50.00 each, the tax apply is the 4.375%on each item even though total spending is $250.00. Another example is : if someone buy 2 item at $35.00 , 2 item at $50.00 and 3 item at $ 150.00, so the tax apply is : no tax for the 2 items at $ 35.00 , ( $50.00 x 2 ) x 4.4375 % plus ( $ 150.00 x3 ) x 8.875 %.

- All taxes are apply before shipping cost if there is any shipping cost.

This rules will be change again on April 2012.

Can anybody give me ideas on how to do this in Zen Cart? Thanks a lot a lot!

Eric

[Kim]

Please note I am not a tax expert, but you should set up your three tax rates, each with a different tax class and apply the appropriate tax class when setting up your products.

[gjh42]

And to make it even more fun, you need to charge sales tax based on where your customer lives in New York. People outside of NYC whose tax rate is 7 or 8% will not be happy paying 8 7/8% when they are not supposed to.

[Eric Nash]

Thanks, guys! I'll try...

It is always a headache concerning the tax rate...

[hawkwynd]

Using: v1.50

We were instructed that we had to charge sales tax in New York state, broken out by each county in the state. I have written an SQL query to update zen-cart, to set tax zones for all 54 counties in New York, each having it's own sales tax rate.

The CSV file lists the tax rates by county for reference. (tax_rates.csv.zip)
The SQL file will create the zones, zones definition and tax rates for all the New York counties. (new_york_tax_zone_by_county.sql.zip)

As always, back up your SQL database prior to running this script. It is not suggested that you use the SQL feature in the Zen Cart Admin to run this script. Advise you use your Mysql client (PhpMyAdmin or other means) to run this sql script.

Remember, if you already have a New York zone, you will need to delete it from your store zones.

NOTE: This is not intended for use with zen-carts that already have an existing customer base, as the address_book table will no longer pair up to the ID for the current customers, forcing them to have to re-enter their address information if they return to the site (after the db script runs) because their zone_id information will not be found.


Hope this contributes to anyone who is also required to charge sales tax per county in New York state.

[gjh42]

You cannot safely use just the counties as tax zones. There are numerous cities or other areas within counties which are separate tax zones. New York has a calculator page which will tell you the correct zone for any address, but last I knew there was no way to use it automatically; the address needs to be manually entered each time.