Using Tax Scheme Definitions

A complete set of tax options, rules and conditions defined is called a tax scheme. While only one tax scheme can be in effect at each particular time, multiple tax schemes can be defined. The schemes can be saved to your store database, restored from the database to be applied to the store, deleted, exported to and imported from a file on your local computer. All tax scheme operations are performed from the 'Tax Scheme Definitions' tab of the 'Taxes' section located in the 'Settings' menu (Figure 3-35).

Figure 3-35: Tax scheme definitions screen

Using Predefined Tax Schemes

LiteCommerce software contains a number of predefined tax schemes, namely 'One global tax value', 'US state sales tax rates', 'VAT system', 'VAT system (alternative)' and 'Canadian GST/PST system', which cannot be modified or deleted. These tax schemes can be used as a base for your store's own tax scheme or simply viewed as references/samples.

Note: It is not guaranteed that the predefined tax schemes provided in LiteCommerce distribution will conform with your local, national and international laws. To make sure that your tax settings are configured properly, please refer to the relevant laws.

Resetting, Saving and Deleting Tax Schemes

To switch your store to one of the existing tax schemes, choose a tax scheme from the drop-down menu under the 'Reset/delete tax scheme' title and click on the 'Reset' button next to it. Doing so will replace the tax scheme settings in the 'Tax Options' and 'Rates/Conditions' tabs and redirect the browser to the 'Tax Options' tab. You can adjust tax rates/conditions to meet the requirements of your local, national and international laws and save the customized scheme under a new name.

To save the tax scheme currently defined in the 'Tax Options' and 'Rates/Conditions' tabs of the 'Taxes' section, under the 'Save the current tax scheme' title choose the scheme name from the list of existing schemes or the ' -- new name -- ' option to save the scheme under a new name and click on the 'Save' button. If you have chosen the ' -- new name -- ' option, you will be asked to provide a name for the scheme. Type the name in the text field provided and click on the 'OK' button.

To delete a tax scheme, choose it from the drop-down menu under the 'Reset/delete tax scheme' title and click on the 'Delete scheme' button. This operation is irreversible.

Exporting/Importing Tax Schemes

If you have at least one custom tax scheme saved, 'Export tax scheme' title appears in the 'Tax scheme definitions' tab, providing you with the possibility to export existing schemes to your local computer as a single file (Figure 3-36).

Figure 3-36: Tax scheme export capability added

To export a scheme, choose it from the drop-down list and click on the 'Export' button. Next you will be prompted to select the folder where the scheme will be exported to and specify the filename. To have your current tax scheme exported, you need to save it first.

If you have a tax scheme definition file (a file with the '.tax' extension created by LiteCommerce software) and you would like to import it to your LiteCommerce store system, click on the 'Browse...' button to locate the file on your local computer and then click on the 'Import' button to import it. The new tax scheme definition will replace the tax scheme settings in the 'Tax Options' and 'Rates/Conditions' tabs.