Local Sales Tax Mod - Support Thread

LadyHLG:

OK gwynwyffar,
Please try the update attached, just upload the new files to over write the current ones (only 2 of them).

Let me know what happens!
LadyHLG

LadyHLG,
First, thanks so much for all the time you've put into this module! The update you sent has the function directory in the root rather than under the includes directory. I figured it out as most will but for any that get stumped, I thought I'd mention it. The fix helped me get my local and state (FLA) tax files back as well.

Now I'm working on figuring out why, when I exempt ALL, I still see the local tax there. I'm wrapping up today and will reread some of the forum comments and attack that one tomorrow.

Just wanted to mention the directory structure correction before anyone else misplaced those fixes.

Regards,

Jim

supersnow:

I just tried it and it still isn't working. The local tax is still calculated for exempt customers. The state sales tax shows as $0.00 but the local tax is then displayed under this with an amount.
I am having a similar problem as supersnow. I'm using ZC v1.3.9h, Local Tax v2.5 with the 2.51 changed files, and Tax Exempt v1.3.

With no exemptions: With the exemption box empty, I can now see the local & state taxes correctly for local (FLA) and none for out of state as expected.:smile:

**ALL exempted: **If I put "ALL" to exempt all taxes, it removes the state tax but I still see the local tax. :(

**Exempt FL tax: **When I put "FL TAX 6.0", it exempts the state tax and leaves in the local tax correctly.:smile:

I'm stumped as to where to look to fix the ALL exemption so it removes the local tax listing. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jim

Its been some time now and I was just wondering if anyone has successfully gotten this to work with 1.5. Tax cloud seems to have a major disconnect of information between the official site and the developer, I've given up on it.

gotduhka:

Its been some time now and I was just wondering if anyone has successfully gotten this to work with 1.5. Tax cloud seems to have a major disconnect of information between the official site and the developer, I've given up on it.

I'd like to know the same thing. I am using Z1.5 and I am very much in need of such a mod ...

genochem:

After 8 hours of tweeking, I am a little closer. Tax is applied to the shipping, and appears to be in the total, However, the numbers displayed do not add up.

Taxing based on: Shipping
Taxing For Zone: 195
Local Tax For:
Confer LAPT30- $72.4:
FL-Broward County - 4.344 @ 6.00
76.744
FL-Broward CountyTotal Tax = 4.344

Tax on shipping: 1.2558

$72.40 Sub-Total:

$20.93 United Parcel Service (Ground):

$4.34 FL-Broward County: (Does Not Include Shipping)

$98.93 Tax on Shipping appears to be included)

Any Thoughts on where to go would be appreciated?

Thanks

Jack

I'm having what I believe is the same problem.

Example:
Product subtotal: $34.00
Shipping (UPS Ground): $13.15
NY State sales tax (4%): $1.89
Ulster county sales tax (4%): $1.89
Total: $51.45

The tax calculations appear correct. $34+$13.15= $47.15 x 4% = $1.89

BUT! when you add $47.15 + 1.89 + 1.89 = $50.93 NOT $51.45

There's a $0.52 discrepancy in the calculated final total. Interestingly enough the shipping amt. $13.15 x 4% = .526

It looks like the local sales tax mod is adding in the tax on the shipping twice, but I can't quite see where that is happening. I'm using the files from 2.5.1 from June that you had sent me.

Mine was running 54 times. There's a stray end bracket in the PHP file causing the problem; it's the one that says endif apply local tax. That needs to be moved to below the shipping, order info, and update final total sections.

Could you be a little more specific? I think I see the extra bracket, but I'm not sure where you mean for it to go.

                //update order info totals 
                $apply_tax_to_shipping = check_tax_on_shipping($taxrec['tax_shipping']);    
                
                if($apply_tax_to_shipping){
                
                      $shipping_tax = zen_calculate_tax($order->info['shipping_cost'], $taxrec['tax']);
                      $order->info['shipping_tax'] += $shipping_tax;    
                      $tax_total_for_class  +=    $shipping_tax;
                } // end if apply to shipping
                
                
                // Update the final total to include tax
                $order->info['total'] = $order->info['subtotal'] + $order->info['tax'] + $order->info['shipping_cost'] + $order->info['shipping_tax'];
                
                $showtax = $currencies->format($tax_total_for_class, true, $order->info['currency'], $order->info['currency_value']);
                
                $this->output[] = array(
                                'title' => $taxdesc .':' ,
                                'text' => $showtax,
                                'value' => $tax_total_for_class);
            [B]}Should the bracket go here instead?[/B]
                      
            } //end if tax total > 0 
            
           [B] }  //end if apply local tax[/B] [B]<- offending bracket?[/B]
       } //end foreach tax 

    } //end if local tax <> 0
    
} //end function

I tried moving the bracket, that is not my problem as it made no difference.

There's some error in the function or the loop that is causing the local tax on shipping to be added into the total twice.

You have a different version of the file than I do. I don't have if tax total >0 so I have no idea which side it should go on. Not that it really matters if it doesn't fix your problem.

I think I managed to fix my problem. It might not have been the right way, but the calculation is working properly now. I commented out line 109 on the ot_local_sales_taxes.php file (I'm using version 2.5.1 which I guess never actually got posted to the repository for download but it's available earlier in this thread. Posting the function below in case it helps someone else - or in case someone sees a flaw in my very rudimentary attempt.

//update order info totals 
$apply_tax_to_shipping = check_tax_on_shipping($taxrec['tax_shipping']);	

if($apply_tax_to_shipping){

   $shipping_tax = zen_calculate_tax($order->info['shipping_cost'], $taxrec['tax']);
   //commented out line below to fix addition of shipping tax twice into order total 
   //$order->info['shipping_tax'] += $shipping_tax;	
   $tax_total_for_class  +=	$shipping_tax;
} // end if apply to shipping

Hello, in-case anyone is still using this, I am looking at updating this plugin to Zencart v1.5.0. So, if anyone has information on specific bugs that should be or have been resolved in the forum, please send then, I am hopping this update will not be too time consuming, but I need it for a store and thought others may like it as well. I am starting the update based upon the latest code I found posted in this forum and the updates that were on the plugins download site (v2.5, and v2.5.1). as a start to the update I have already created a Florida specific SQL file with counties and related zip codes as of 2012, and related uninstaller, I will post those here for anyone that would like them.

This zip file has the SQL files I mentioned above. [Attachment no longer available]

potteryhouse:

Hello, in-case anyone is still using this, I am looking at updating this plugin to Zencart v1.5.0. So, if anyone has information on specific bugs that should be or have been resolved in the forum, please send then, I am hopping this update will not be too time consuming, but I need it for a store and thought others may like it as well. I am starting the update based upon the latest code I found posted in this forum and the updates that were on the plugins download site (v2.5, and v2.5.1). as a start to the update I have already created a Florida specific SQL file with counties and related zip codes as of 2012, and related uninstaller, I will post those here for anyone that would like them.

Thank you in advance for the effort. I have tried previously to contact the author with no sucess and several programmers that would not even give in an attempt because someone else wrote it.

Hello,
Thanks for the good news.
I would like to keep using this mod if possible. I'll be switching to v1.5.0 next month.
A feature that would be useful for me: it would be nice to get an output of the associated tax code number for the matched zip code. For example, my state (Washington) has a four digit "Location code" for each region. The nine digit zip code is necessary to determine which location code is correct. There are usually about 50000 zip code ranges, but there are only less than 500 location codes. I normally need to look up the location code manually. It would be nice to have an extra field to output the corresponding location code. It need not affect the matching, just output the extra information.
Thanks again.
Jason A.

This is an update to the tax mod, for version 1.3.9 only, this is the first step in the update to make it compatible with version 1.5.0. I have installed in on the site http://www.1potteryhouse.com/ and it seems to be working correctly. If anyone else would like to test it, let me know if there are issues. In the zip there is a readme.txt file that details the changes I made.

The two main changes are bug fixes and the inclusion of a Florida only SQL file.
Bug fix in "catalog/includes/modules/order_total/ot_local_sales_taxes.php" to resolve calculation error.
Bug fix in "catalog/includes/functions/extra_functions/functions_local_taxes.php", to resolve case select error and added zip + 4 support.

Due to upload size limit this is a tar/gzip file that needs to be extracted using a compatible tool such as Cygwin with this command 'gzip -dc localSalesTaxMod2.5.2.tar.zip | tar xv' or with 7zip available from http://www.7-zip.org/.

As with any mods, use at your own risk! Make sure you create backups prior to installation.

patternman:

Hello,
Thanks for the good news.
I would like to keep using this mod if possible. I'll be switching to v1.5.0 next month.
A feature that would be useful for me: it would be nice to get an output of the associated tax code number for the matched zip code. For example, my state (Washington) has a four digit "Location code" for each region. The nine digit zip code is necessary to determine which location code is correct. There are usually about 50000 zip code ranges, but there are only less than 500 location codes. I normally need to look up the location code manually. It would be nice to have an extra field to output the corresponding location code. It need not affect the matching, just output the extra information.
Thanks again.
Jason A.

I need to understand more about what the location code is you refer to, is it the postal code "ZIP PLUS 4" or something specific to the state. If it is the zip plus 4, then it can be added to the zip code with a -, if not a new field will be needed I would think. A sample and or a link to the description may help.

I submitted an update today for the module that includes instructions to make this work with Zen Cart 1.5.
I do not know when they will become available for download, but they should show up here http://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=422

These are the basic instructions to add the mod to the admin menu in version 1.5.
-- go to Admin Page Registration

-- Page Key = "localSalesTaxes"
-- Page Name = "BOX_TAXES_LOCAL_SALES_TAXES"
-- Page Filename = "FILENAME_LOCAL_SALES_TAXES"
-- Page Parameters = "" (Nothing to enter here)
-- Menu = "Locations / Taxes"
-- Display on Menu? = CHECKED
-- Sort Order = "6" (Most likely next available Sort Order number)

I tried to install the Zen Cart Local Sales Tax Mod but I am stuck on instruction #1 "Copy all files inside the catalog folder to your cart." I am not sure if that means that I need to upload them using my FTP file manager in Godaddy or not. If that is where the all the files go, I am not sure what folder they actually go in. I am using the Apparel Boutique template. I think that admin folder is the first folder called "adminurrhtcqq" in my zencart. If anyone can help me out with some step by step instructions that would be great. I desperately need to have this Mod inorder to run my business correctly in my state. Thank you so much and I look foward to hearing someone

Thanks,
Matthew

Make sure you read through all the help files before making changes, and backup the shop and database so that you have a restore point to go back to if you have issues.
(readme.html and readme_version 2.5.2.txt)

It is usually best to try this process on a local copy (a version of zen cart installed on your local PC) prior to doing this online, that way you get a good feel for what should be done prior to making changes to the "real" site.

The files go into the folder on your host that your shop runs from within, they are copied using an FTP tool.

For example, if your shop is in a folder named "MYSHOP", then the the folder from the download called "catalog" would be equivalent to the folder called "MYSHOP", they would contain the same sub-folders structure and the files are simply overlay-ed into your "MYSHOP", note that none of these files should over write your current files, they are in addition. Remember that part of the zen cart installation renames your admin folder, so your should rename the admin folder in the catalog folder to match your sites admin folder (makes the copying easier).

I hope this helps.

Does anyone have any help for setting up NY local taxes, such as County and City taxes. I read about the Local Sales Tax Mod. I have it downloaded but what is the most effecient way to set it up. Had it set up originally without the mod, and it was just adding every single county and city tax to the order. How do you link the local taxes to the order and how does it recognize what tax it should charge the customer. Any help would be much appreciated!