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Changing VAT to 15% in OSCommerce
OSCommerce and its derivative CRE Loaded are popular open source ecommerce engines.
This mini-HOWTO explains how to change the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate from 17.5% to 15% for the UK, in line with Alistair Darling's pre budget report (PBR). To recap:
The standard rate of VAT will reduce from 17.5% to 15% with effect from 1/122008. The 15% rate will have effect for:
- Supplies of goods and services made on or after 1/12/2008.
- Imports on or after 1/12/2008.
- Acquisitions of goods from other EU States on or after the same date.
The standard rate of VAT will revert to 17.5% with effect from 1 January 2010.
Changing the VAT rate from 17.5%
- Log into OSCommerce's admin control panel, typically this is under http://yourdomain.com/admin/index.php
- Click on Locations/Taxes and choose the Tax Rates menu item
- Locate the current 17.5% rate(s). N.B. you may have more than one rate if you charge VAT on delivery.
- Select the tax rate you want to work with by clicking on it, to ensure its highlighted, then click the Edit button on the right.
- Amend the tax rate from 17.5000 to 15.0000 and the correspodning description.
- Click the update button.
- Repeat for other rates.
Tips on changing the VAT rate to 15%
- Previous transactions are unaffected and will continue to show VAT at 17.5%
- Unfortunately OScommerce does not provide an auotmatic way to switch over the VAT rate at 1
second past midnight. Technically it possible to setup a Cron job to update the database at this time. Realistically it is probbaly easier for shop owners to stay up Sunday night!
- Don't forget to check other shop assets, such as artwork, that may contain the 17.5% rate.
- The fraction 40/47 - currently used to work manually out the net
figure by applying it to the gross figure. This fraction changes to
20/23 from 1st December.
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