Flex Tax Rule
Select Maintenance > Taxes > Flex Tax Rule to access this function.
Flex tax rules enable you to apply taxes to items based on varying conditions. For example, you can create a rule to apply a tax to an item when the quantity sold is less than six, and another tax when the quantity is six or more. Another flex tax rule example is to create a rule to charge no tax on a soft drink when you order it with other food items, and then charge tax on the same soft drink when you order it individually.
You can set up a variety of flex tax rules. A single flex tax rule does not stand alone; instead you create flex tax rules that link from one rule to another until you reach the end of the chain. The last link (flex tax rule) in the chain actually establishes the tax to apply to the guest check. The method you choose when you create each flex tax rule determines the options available to you when defining the conditions under which to apply the rule. Available methods are as follows: Always, Quantity, Subtotal, Category, Quantity by category, and Tax locale.
Reference: Refer to the Tax by Destination Feature Focus Guide - HKS383 for a good example of how to apply flex tax rules.
Tip: Before you can define flex tax rules, you must create all applicable primary or secondary tax records in Maintenance > Taxes > Tax Types.
Flex Tax Rule types
Primary establishes the rule as applying to the primary taxes for which you are responsible in your taxing jurisdiction.
Secondary establishes the rule as applying to secondary taxes for which you are responsible in your taxing jurisdiction.
Tip: To select any flex tax rule as a secondary flex tax for an item, access Maintenance > Business > Store > Store Settings tab > Financials group and select ‘Enable Secondary Taxes’ under the ‘Taxes’ group bar.
Flex Tax Rule tab
Flex tax rules enable you to apply taxes to items based on varying conditions.
Group Bar: Settings
Name — Identifies the flex tax rule. Type a maximum of 15 characters.
Description — Identifies the purpose of the flex tax rule. Type a maximum of 50 characters.
Method — Specifies the conditions under which to apply the flex tax rule. Available methods are as follows:
- Always — Establishes the tax type to apply to the guest check when the conditions successfully resolve to the last flex tax rule in the chain.
- Quantity — Applies the flex tax rule based on the quantity of the ordered item.
- Subtotal — Applies the flex tax rule based on the subtotal of the guest check.
- Category — Applies the flex tax rule based on the category of items from which the customer must make a purchase.
- Quantity by category — Applies the flex tax rule based on the quantity ordered of an item from a designated category.
- Tax locale — Applies the flex tax rule based on the tax locale of the address to which you are delivering an order.
Tip: The first flex tax rule you create becomes the last flex tax rule in the chain and must be one that uses the 'Always' method.
Group Bar: Always
You must select ‘Always’ as the method to enable this group bar.
Tax type — Designates the tax to apply when a flex tax rule affects all items. If you select ‘Always’ as the ‘Method,’ the tax type specified for this option gets applied at all times.
Group Bar: Quantity
You must select ‘Quantity’ as the method to enable this group bar.
Apply tax if item quantity is less than — Indicates the quantity of the ordered item below which the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if successful' under the 'Chaining' group bar. If the quantity is equal to or greater than this number, the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if fails.' For example, if the quantity is set to six and a customer orders five or less of the item, the system applies the flex tax rule for the successful condition; otherwise, the system applies the flex tax rule for the failed condition.
Group Bar: Subtotal
You must select ‘Subtotal’ as the method to enable this group bar.
Apply tax if guest check subtotal is less than — Indicates the guest check subtotal below which the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if successful' under the 'Chaining' group bar. If the subtotal is equal to or greater than this amount, the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if fails.' For example, if the subtotal is set to $5.00 and the guest check subtotal is $4.99 or less, the system applies the flex tax rule for the successful condition; otherwise, the system applies the flex tax rule for the failed condition.
Group Bar: Category
You must select ‘Category’ as the method to enable this group bar.
Apply tax if any items in this category are on the guest check — Indicates the category from which a customer must purchase an item before which the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if successful' under the 'Chaining' group bar. If an item from this category does not exist on the guest check, the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if fails.' For example, if the category is set to Retail and a customer purchases a t-shirt or other item from the Retail category, the system applies the flex tax rule for the successful condition; otherwise, the system applies the flex tax rule for the failed condition.
Group Bar: Quantity by category
You must select ‘Quantity by category’ as the method to enable this group bar.
Is category quantity less than — Indicates the quantity below which a customer must make a purchase of items from the designated category before the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if successful' under the 'Chaining' group bar. If the customer purchases a quantity of items from the designated category that is greater than this, the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if fails.' For example, if the quantity is set to six and a customer orders five or less of the item from the designated category, the system applies the flex tax rule for the successful condition; otherwise, the system applies the flex tax rule for the failed condition. Required Options: You must select a category in 'Check for items in this category are on the guest check.'
Check for items in this category are on the guest check — Indicates the category from which a customer must purchase the designated quantity of an item before the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if successful' under the 'Chaining' group bar. If an item from this category does not exist on the guest check, the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if fails.' For example, if the category is set to Retail and a customer purchases five or less t-shirts from the Retail category, the system applies the flex tax rule for the successful condition; otherwise, the system applies the flex tax rule for the failed condition. Required Options: You must specify a quantity in 'Is category quantity less than.'
Group Bar: Tax locale
You must select ‘Tax locale’ as the type to enable this group bar.
Apply tax if tax locale is — Indicates the tax locale to which you must make a delivery before the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if successful' under the 'Chaining' group bar; otherwise, the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if fails.' This is for use with NCR Aloha Takeout and allows you to deliver to, and apply the appropriate taxes for, customers that reside in a zip code for which different taxes apply. Required Options: Access Maintenance > Taxes > Tax Locale to define tax locales.
Group Bar: Chaining
This group bar appears for every method except 'Always.'
Chain to if successful — Designates the flex tax rule to apply when the conditions for the flex tax rule are met; otherwise, the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if fails.' Required Options: You must select a flex tax rule to apply when the conditions for the flex tax rule fail in 'Chain to if fails.'
Chain to if fails — Designates the flex tax rule to apply when the conditions for the flex tax rule fail; otherwise the system applies the flex tax rule selected in 'Chain to if successful.' Required Options: You must select a flex tax rule to apply when the conditions for the flex tax rule are successful in 'Chain to if successful.'