TaxCloud vs Tax Rates?

Thanks for the question. NY state taxes can be a bit confusing. We have data for NY that maps zip codes to tax jurisdictions. We don't really need the 9-digit zip code for NY as we do for other states, but the address verification is still useful.

I don't think that our module will work with the Local Sales Tax mod. You would have to remove that module and replace it with the TaxCloud module. I haven't actually tested this but since they do almost the same thing I am assuming there would be conflicts. I don't think you would want to make your customers select a county either.

Thanks for the quick reply! I'm not sure I understand about not needing the 9 digit zips for NY. NYS told me that some 5 digit zip codes cross county lines so I need the full address before I can determine the county to get the sales tax rate.

Well, ideally we would use the 9 digit zip code to determine the most accurate rate for NY but since NY isn't a SSUTA state they don't provide this level of detail. We have the rates for cities and 5 digit zip codes.

We do provide the jurisdiction (city and zip) in the returns we generate at the end of the month. The benefit of using TaxCloud in this situation is that the data is always kept up to date and includes clothing exemptions, tax holidays, exemption certificate support, etc...

Taxcloud:

Well, ideally we would use the 9 digit zip code to determine the most accurate rate for NY but since NY isn't a SSUTA state they don't provide this level of detail. We have the rates for cities and 5 digit zip codes.

We do provide the jurisdiction (city and zip) in the returns we generate at the end of the month. The benefit of using TaxCloud in this situation is that the data is always kept up to date and includes clothing exemptions, tax holidays, exemption certificate support, etc...

Please explain how your database works. My mailing address zip is not in the same county (or tax rate) where I physically live. Even 9 digit zips are designed for mail delivery, not tax boundary lines.

South Carolina is a non-ssuta member. Tax rules here are a PITA as some counties/cities require origin/destination (or both) tax rules. There is no law (to date) that requires me to collect sales tax from out of state buyers.

That said, I have no problem with submitting invoices to customers as to the amount of Use Tax owed.

Avoiding a political rant ( I have a blog and FB group for that ), my question is How can I do this using TaxCloud?

v1.3.8a Authorize.net/PayPal cowoa mod

Our system utilizes the origin address and the shipping address to calculate the tax due. It doesn't really have anything to do with your billing address. It only matters where the item is actually being shipped to. Using a 9-digit zip code for the shipping address allows us to calculate the most accurate tax rate.

When you use TaxCloud you can specify which states you would like to calculate taxes for. The taxes calculated are adding to the shopping cart total so the correct taxes are collected from the user when they complete the order. I'm not sure if this is what you mean when you mention submitting invoices to the users.

Thanks for your reply. I am only obligated to collect tax in South Carolina, and I do collect for this State.

What I would like to do for out of state sales is display the Use Tax in the total, but not charge the customer (or collect tax).

For instance, the deal Amazon struck with South Carolina over physical nexus with a new warehouse was this: Amazon is exempt from collecting SC Sales Tax, but they are required to tell SC residents how much Use Tax is owed.

What do you go by if you only have a 5 digit zip?

What about gifts? In those cases, the billing address would take precedence of the shipping address. The buyer should have this option.

Keith

It would be possible to display the use tax amount, but not charge the customer. The code would have to be modified to do this so they tax is not added to the shopping cart total. You would also have to provide a message to the user.

We will always return a rate, even if you provide only a 5 digit zip code. The rate returned depends on the state. Some states have multiple jurisdictions within a 5 digit zip code and some don't. Some states have state, county and city taxes. We will return the most accurate rate possible based on zip passed in. Using the 9 digit zip code will almost always give you a more accurate result. The TaxCloud integration for Zen Cart already performs address verification to get the 9 digit zip code.

Gifts are the same as any other purchase. The tax rate is based on the origin and shipping address of the transaction.

I have run into the same problem. Taxcloud is disabled until I fix this. Can you send me the fix you sent to jacob, too?

jacob.v4ll:

Hi Taxcloud,

I have installed the taxcloud v1.4 module on zencart v1.3.9h and it is calculating tax correctly and adding it during the checkout process (great mod). Server is running PHP 5.2.17 and I double checked the SoapClient is installed (and tested it's working).

The problem I'm having is when you click "confirm order" on the "main_page=checkout_confirmation" page, it loads the "main_page=checkout_process" page and it only says "Setting order totals for taxcloud" at top left. That page doesn't redirect to the confirmation page or anything. If I refresh on that page it loads the "main_page=shopping_cart" and the cart is empty.

Also, the confirmation email that gets sent for the order doesn't show any tax line items in the order sub-totals, and the actual order total doesn't include the tax amount that was calculated on the checkout pages (checkout total doesn't match email confirmation total). I have tested many times with different payment/shipping methods and the result is always the same.

If more details are needed to help troubleshoot this problem please let me know. I can even set up a test account on my test site to see exactly what's happening if needed.

Taxcloud:

Hello Jacob,

I have some updated files I can send you which will take care of the problem. I will send you a private message. Thanks.

apogeerockets:

I have run into the same problem. Taxcloud is disabled until I fix this. Can you send me the fix you sent to jacob, too?

Hello- I have just installed TaxCloud on Zen Cart 1.5 and am experiencing the same issue with the 'missing tax line in the customer confirmation email'. Could I get those new files as well?

Thanks

Paul

I've got Taxcloud 1.5 installed on ZC 1.5 and it is working wonderfully, but I have a confusing issue regarding taxes and paypal.

When I add items to my cart and go through the checkout process, Taxcloud calculates the taxes and the user is presented with the order total.

When you go to complete the checkout, paypal shows a different tax rate and different total.

I do not have any taxation set up within paypal, so I don't know why its calculating its own tax rate.

Actually, it appears it is the 'group discount' mod that is causing this issue...

Any thoughts on what needs to be changed/added to tax cloud to deal with discounts? I believe I still need to charge tax on the full amount, not the discounted total.

While I think that it will be pretty rare instance that this will hit, it will still be confusing to customers.

PaulO:

Hello- I have just installed TaxCloud on Zen Cart 1.5 and am experiencing the same issue with the 'missing tax line in the customer confirmation email'. Could I get those new files as well?

Thanks

Paul

Same here. Using version zencart-taxcloudv1.5.1. confirmation email does not show tax and the wrong total.
Getting updated files would be very much appreciated.

Cheers,

Marcello

Just checked a test order to my tax state and I am seeing the same thing.

Hoping Tax Cloud updates to 1.5.2..

Just a FYI for anyone reading this forum in the future. This issue has been resolved in the latest version of the TaxCloud module - v1.5.2.