Customize tax calculation to accommodate U.S. zip code rates / state tax rate

[jenkinhill]

VirtueMart 2.0.18 has an included VM Avalara Tax plugin - this appears to do exactly what you want with US local tax. The tutorial for use is on http://docs.virtuemart.net/tutorials/28-plugins-payment-shipment-and-others/75-configure-avatax

[GJC Web Design]

Hi,

Have successfully integrated the TaxCloud service into Vm 2.0 but would like to see what the interest is if I release this commercially.

As I understand it (although info on their site is very hard to come by unless you register - never a good sign) - that the new native Avalara Tax plugin that jenkinHill mentions above is a commercial "Software as a Service"
the info I found is here -

http://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/article/10653455/2012-review-of-avalara-avatax-calc?page=2

companies with up to 700 transactions per year, the cost is $350. For higher volumes, such as up to 7,000 transactions annually, the cost is about $0.35 per transaction/lookup (about $2,400).

although have no idea how accurate this info is..

I assume TaxCloud is free - I am fully registered - the server is returning accurate tax values and address validation.

I will incl. a couple of screenshots below but at the moment I haven't bothered with Tax Exemption Certs, The TIC taxability code for the item in the cart, Notifying TaxCloud when a transaction has been authorized or Notifying TaxCloud when a transaction has been completed.

Will only continue with those if any interest is shown and then release it..

The integration is a standard installable joomla plugin - no hacks..

The taxcloud is set up as a normal Virtuemart tax rate (per bill) and the api goes off and verifies the client address and then returns the tax rate incl the shipping tax.

If the address won't verify the client is returned to the address dialog with a message.





So - if anyone interested post here please.

[Made For Joomla]

Hi John

awesome,        i had a total of 5 requests for the version we made in one years time, no one purchased ours.

i hope you fair better than we did with our version.  there was just no interest and the few that contacted me, wanted for free

[GJC Web Design]

Hi Mike,

how are you? We seem to have lost contact somewhat!   

Yes, as you say, very hard to judge the potential requirement of this.. been caught before with "desperately needed extensions" that as soon as you ask for some recompense for time spent they vanish... if only the ran their shops as a give away concern.. 

Will leave this for the moment and see if there are any responses before dev'ing further..

Regards and all good things!

[fletch88]

I'm interested.  I've used other stores and am just starting to run VirtueMart on my dev environment.  I've been building stores for small businesses lately and Sales Tax by county (I'm in GA) has been a thorn in my side.  If you can do this and keep it affordable, it works, and VirtueMart works out I will probably buy a copy with each build.  I love open source and free like anyone but work is work and you deserve to get paid for it.

[GJC Web Design]

Hi fletch88,

The plugin is available but it's not on my downloads page till further feedback is returned... I will price it at €50 which includes live long updates...

If a few sell then I will continue the dev as the TaxCloud outfit is the "internet's only free sales tax processing service" and a service of The Federal Tax Authority,LLC (from their website) and all your taxes apparently can be reconciled thru their system..

I found the registration very simple and it does apparently do all it says on the tin.. but . you are the ONLY reply received so far...

Feel free to PM me if you need any further info..

Cheers

[Made For Joomla]

just an FYI
The Federal Tax Authority is not a government agency,   its the name of there company only

Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board which supposedly endorsed them also is not a government agency

do not be deceived, they have no IRS or tax affiliation with the government or states

they are endorsed by themselves


that said, as long as the information is good,   who cares

[mosquitoman]

you do know that you only have to collect tax for your specific state that you reside in so only orders shipping within your state.  I would pay for this functionality to work right now i just have to eat it when their in a different county.  I'm in florida

[Made For Joomla]

that used to be the case   

say i lived in Connecticut, and the item i purchased online is shipped from Connecticut, i would pay Connecticut sales tax

if i lived in New York and the item is shipped from Connecticut, i would have no sales tax

so 17 states have started destination sales tax

so its a multi tiered tax system,    its not just the sales tax for the the state the item is shipped from,   its the tax for the place the item is shipped to,   state, county, and city, each have their own sales tax in some states and this is the formula Johns module addresses.

there are another 21 states in the process of enacting the same tax law

[mosquitoman]

I don't understand your example? your example outlines what i just said, the way i understand it and to go into more depth exactly what you said I live in florida if i buy a product from conneticut you the store owner don't have to charge me tax.  I actually am however when i do my sales tax suppose to report that as a "use tax" when i do my own monthly sales tax stuff and i'm suppose to pay tax on it arriving because i bought it out of state, but that's not you the store owners concern.  So for my own store when i ship stuff out in florida i have to charge them sales tax, but when it's out of my state it's up to them.  Actually it's kinda funny the state of florida expects that INDIVIDUALS go on and actually file the same use tax when they buy goods out of state! hahaha like anyone EVER does that! I sadly do since I want to cover myself as a business

[GJC Web Design]

Thanks Mike!

The Federal Tax Authority is not a government agency,   its the name of there company only

Proves you should never believe stuff you read on the internet... 

Makes you wonder what's in it for them though and how you can get away with registering a company called "The Federal Tax Authority" - 

I guess as the other carts are using it natively then it should be kosher...

[mosquitoman]

not sure what you mean that's not "what i've read on the net" that's being in business for 8 years doing business in about 8 countries tons of states, and bouncing questions off of over 3 or 4 cpa's over the years that make thousands of dollars per year doing my taxes, not to say i'm perfectly right but i have to be dam close in what i've stated thus why if memory serves the only LARGE online store i've ever seen charge tax is walmart which would make sense since they have stores in all 50 states!

[GJC Web Design]

Seems to depend on whether your State is part of the SSUTA

 

Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement

The Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement is a cooperative effort by forty-four states to simplify and reduce the administrative costs of sales tax collection. As part of its efforts, the SSUTA governing board has been working toward the passage of federal legislation, which would authorize states to require out-of-state merchants to collect sales tax. This is a much simpler and straightforward solution, and one that has none of the drawbacks of affiliate nexus legislation.

Federal Legislation
While SSUTA has made it easy for retailers to collect sales tax for multiple states, there is still no federal legislation authorizing states to require remote sellers to collect and remit sales tax. Without this legislation, out-of-state retailers are exempt from the obligation to collect sales tax. Today, retailers are merely encouraged to volunteer to collect sales tax as a customer service feature (so consumers don’t have to send in the tax due with their income taxes).
However, Congress is currently considering new legislation, which would grant states the authority to require all retailers to collect those states’ sales and use taxes—regardless of nexus or physical presence

Laws surrounding the collection of sales tax by online retailers are continuing to evolve and change. And more and more states are passing laws that add “in-state affiliate marketers” to the list of ways to create nexus. With sales tax laws constantly changing, your sales tax management service needs to be able to comply with current and future regulations.

Federal sales tax legislation that currently being considered by Congress will rely on the sales tax simplification guidelines of the SSUTA. Since CSPs are guaranteed to comply with SSUTA regulations, selecting a CSP as your sales tax management service means that it will be able to comply with future sales tax laws.

TaxCloud is a free, easy-to-use sales tax management service. It’s the only service that was designed to comply with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement at a scale to support all online retailers. TaxCloud determines the applicable sales tax rate for a transaction, automatically incorporates changes to tax codes and rates, files sales tax returns, generates monthly reports, and handles all exemptions and audits – all at no cost.

[GJC Web Design]

This has been withdrawn from sale as TaxCloud have told me they demand FULL implementation and will block accounts using this until it is completed.
My problem is with one sold over 4 weeks it is of no interest to continue with development. At this stage it accurately returns tax amounts by Postcode but as TaxCloud earn a commision on the tax that they file with the states the demand reporting..

If anyone is interested post here or contact me directly to restart this project..

[mosquitoman]

so I guess i'm your one customer is mine going to work? and did you ever send me the correct file?