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Base Configuration Steps:
Import Service TaxTypes (These will be the 'Service Tax Categories' associated to your services on setup)
click Setup on the left sidebar
under Data Management click Import
import the following service tax types XML: TaxTypes-Import.xml (The 'TaxType' element should be 'name' for the final xml import, example per image below)
the result should indicate success
Optional: setup or import Account Tax Categories (AvaTax supports the following tax categories – Residential, Residential Incorporated, Business, Business Incorporated)
click Setup on the left sidebar
under Data Management click Import
import the service tax types XML (see the AccountTaxCategoryXMLImport.xml file below this list)
Note: you need to update owner in the XML file to match your systemResidential Incorporated
Residential
Business Incorporated
Business
SeniorCitizen
Industrial
SeniorCitizen Incorporated
Industrial Incorporated
If Service Tax Category was not setup in step #1, you can add them manually: setup Service Tax Categories
Populate the Tax Type Mapping table
access the EngageIP Database
run the EZTaxTaxTypeMappingInsertScript script found at the bottom of this list
ensure there are no errors and that the EZTaxTaxTypeMapping table is populated
Add a Tax Vendor for AvaTax
click Setup on the left sidebar
under the Taxes heading select Tax Vendor
if the Default tax vendor does not exist click Add
in the TaxVendor Type list select AvaTax
Populate the Tax Vendor settings (credentials provided by Avalara)
Enable taxation on invoice close select the 'Invoice Level Taxing' option here. It's recommended that this option always be selected / used
Ensure a Default tax code is setup in the AdminPortal
a. click Setup on the left sidebar
b. under the Taxes heading select Tax Codes
c. if the Default tax code does not exist click Add
d. ensure the tax code is Name is 'Default' with a capital 'D' (as the name is case sensitive) and that
the Tax Vendor is set to the AvaTax tax code you setup aboveTest to ensure that taxation is functioning: see the Post Configuration Testing section below
Optional: enable UDR (usage) taxing and other required features described below
AccountTaxCategoryXMLImport.xml
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Inclusive taxing does not work for credits, usage or reversed transactions. Usage taxing will continue to tax on top of the existing charge.
Line Based Taxing
Line based taxing will work with Avatax. Tax on invoice close is required and the use of the bulk quantity component on the package. When a package is created with bulk quantity and the service has a Service Tax Category that is for line taxing, Avatax will return tax based on the bulk quantity number.
Create zero dollar service
Add Service Tax Category for line based taxes (e.g. VoIP Lines, VoIP Wireless Lines, VoIPA Lines .... etc.)
Add a package and associate the service in #2 to it
Add ‘Bulk Package’ component on the package
Add package to account, set bulk quantity as needed
Bill package
Close invoice
Validate that taxes are valid
NOTE: For line based taxes, no prorated refunds are provided. If the package is canceled, the complete tax will be refunded whether for a full period or not
Configuring UDR / Usage Taxing
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Configuring Taxing Per Record (UDR)
Ensure your mediation code is configured to tax the appropriate tax types (see the usage requirements section above)
Ensure the CDRLevelTax EngageIP option exists in the EngageIP database / EngageIPOptions table. If not add it with the insert statement below
Code Block INSERT INTO EngageIPOption (Name,VALUE) VALUES ('CDRLevelTax','true')
Ensure normal usages charges (without tax) are applied for test usage (i.e. usage feeds, UUIH, rates, rate groups, rate plans, tax code setup the service tax category)
On the Setup page under UDR Feeds click the relevant feed to edit it
Under the Processors section click Add
Select SetUDRTaxing, choose a sort order and click Save
Setup a service with a service tax category (in order to apply usage specific taxes)
Ensure a tax code is configured with the service tax category and the tax code's tax vendor is set to the avatax vendor
Add the service with the service tax category to a test package and ensure the package is configured with a UDR Rate Plan containing the proper usage rates
Configure a test account, test user-package and test usage data to ensure usage taxing is working. See the Per Transaction Testing section below for steps
Configuring Batch Taxing Records (UDR)
Enable batch taxing on the Configuration page
Load the Tax Vendor and set the UDR Batch Size (this setting only appears if the 'Batch Taxing On Usage' option described above is enabled)
Note: A maximum batch size of 1,000 is recommended by Avalara as performance degrades above that size
Optional: Access the EngageIP app server and load the EngageIP\Services\UDRBatchTaxService.exe.config file. In the config file verify/adjust the settings to suit your environment:
the frequency that the usage taxes should be processed (pollingDelayInSeconds)
the number of threads to use (MinThread, MaxThread)
how long to retain data on taxes that have been processed (UDRBatchPendingTaxRecordRetentionPeriodInDays)
Follow the same configuration as described in the Configuring Taxing Per Record (UDR) section above
Start the Batch Taxing service
Test to ensure taxes are applied in the batch size and time interval you configured. See the Testing Batch Usage Taxation section below for steps
Configuring Usage Taxing on Invoice Close
Ensure Invoice Level Taxing is enabled on the Tax Vendor (credentials are provided by Avalara)
Follow the same configuration as described in the Configuring Taxing Per Record (UDR) section above
Test to ensure usage is taxed with the appropriate taxes and rates when a test account's invoice is closed. See the Testing Invoice Level Taxation section below for steps
Configuring Usage Taxing on Billing/Invoice Close
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Tax overrides are configured in the AvaTax Admin Console. If you have issues accessing or using the Admin Console please contact Avalara.
Configuring Tax Bundles
Bundles can be configured on Avatax and used within EngageIP.
Requirements
Tax Vendor configuration is updated with profile ID in Avatax that is configured with the bundle. Usually 1 if there is only one profile configured
EZTaxTaxTypeMapping table must be added to with TS pair matching the TS pair specified on Avatax and using a name that matches a Service Tax Category in EngageIP
The Service Tax Category must be associated to a service
IIS Restart and service restarts are required to use these new configurations
Run the queries below to add the custom bundle name into the database for use in the UI
Code Block language sql Insert into EZTaxTaxTypeMapping (Name, Module, TransactionType, ServiceType)
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values ('CustomEzTaxBdl1', 'Custom', 20000,
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Add the Service Tax Category accordingly on the Setup menu:
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Edit the associated service where this bundle is to be applied and add the ‘Service Tax Category’ component and select this item from the list
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20001)
Post Configuration Testing
Per Transaction Testing
Create a test account in the AdminPortal
Setup a valid address on the billing contact
After the address is loaded click on the address on the contact and a Jurisdiction Code should be displayed
Note: if a Jurisdiction Code is not added check the Event Log Report to see if there are any errors in relation to adding the JCodeCheck the account's Overview page to ensure the Default Tax Code is listed
Add a package to the test account and bill it (i.e. leave the Bill Now checkbox enabled)
Configure a Service with valid TaxType, if Service is not configured with TaxType, then Default TaxType: Sales Product is used (i.e. TransactionType: 10 and ServiceType: 15).Load the Transactions page and the taxed amount should be shown
Clicking the ID column on the Transactions page (not shown in the image above) will provide additional details. Specifically the Tax Code used to apply the tax and the specific tax and rate applied will be displayed
Testing Usage Taxation
Create a test account and add an address to the billing contact
Ensure the Jurisdiction Code is added to the billing contact's address after the address is added
Add the test package to the test account and ensure the usage identifier (UUIH) value is populated when configuring the user-package
If not already running, start the EngageIP rating and billing Windows services
Add test usage / a usage record relating to the test service's UUIH and ensure it the usage record is processed without a rating exception
On the Tools page bill the account and ensure the Date and DateEnd range you enter covers the time the usage occurred / the date specified in the test usage record
Check the account's Transactions page and locate the usage
Note: the transactions may not appear for a minute or two depending on how busy the EngageIP app server is with queued events/jobsClick on the usage charge to edit it and the Transactions section will list the taxes that have been applied. The expected taxes and rates for the usage in question should be displayed
Testing Batch Usage Taxation
Follow the Testing Usage Taxation steps above
Verify that the batch taxing occurs when the pollingDelayInSeconds (configured frequency) is reached. Even if only one usage record needs to be taxed the data will be sent to the Avalara server for tax calculation (the system will not wait until the batch size is reached)
Generate enough test usage to exceed the UdrBatchSize. When the polling time is reached check the Event Log to verify that the UdrBatchSize is broken up into more than one batch (Event Log 'Action' column can be filtered by 'ProcessBatchUDRTaxes' to find the batch taxing events. The total number of batches and records will be shown in the 'Result' column)
If you wish to see the transactions and taxes applied to the test account, load the account and bill it via Tools / Bill Account. Ensure the date range you bill for covers the date the usage occurred on
Testing Invoice Level Taxation
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