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HQ Tax Codes

Company Tracker action: implementation-setup-hq-tax-codes Milestone: Headquarters / Module Setup (core_milestone_id=2) Order: 4 Estimated duration: 1 hour Typical owner: Controller

Purpose​

Configure sales tax codes, tax groups, and effective tax rates for use across Vista modules, including multi-jurisdictional tax calculations.

Prerequisites​

  • Tax Codes group assignment planned on HQ Company Setup (commonly shared across companies; never share live with test).
  • GL liability accounts for each tax jurisdiction must exist before (or as) codes are activated. Missing GL on a tax code causes posting errors. Point to GL Chart of Accounts work when it exists; do not invent COA lists here.
  • Single-level vs multi-level strategy decided for the client's jurisdictions (few counties vs multi-state/multi-county pattern).

Vista configuration article​

See the detailed Vista guide:

Setting Up HQ Tax Codes

Field meanings and form steps live there. Do not restate them on this page.

Implementation guidance​

  • Tax codes live in the Tax Codes group on HQ Company Setup Additional Info. That group is commonly shared across companies so one set of codes is maintained. Never share tax groups between live and test.
  • Single-level vs multi-level:
    • Multi-level helps tax reporting show basis broken out across component rates (state + county + transit).
    • Few counties only: one single-level code per county with the combined rate can be acceptable.
    • Multiple states with multiple counties: prefer multi-level. Create single-level member codes first, then multi-level codes that list those members.
  • Assignment points (configure later in those modules, not on this page): AP/AR/PO; jobs and JC contracts; SM customer / site / work order; and master defaults where the process needs them.
  • Gotchas: missing GL liability accounts cause posting failures; shared groups require matching GL and JC codes in every company that shares the group.

Done when​

  • Required tax codes (and multi-level parents if used) exist in the company's Tax Codes group with GL liability accounts assigned.
  • Assignment points known for AP/AR/PO, jobs/contracts, and SM without configuring those modules on this page.