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osCommerce VAT Tutorial (UK)

Below are the basics to help setup your installation of osCommerce for VAT (value added tax)

1. How to add VAT (UK)

2. How to display prices exclusive or inclusive of VAT

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TAKE A BIG breathe and relax - you can expect to spend several minutes referring to this page so click here to add this page to your Favorites; to fully understand and correctly apply VAT to your osCommerce web site you will need to return here again.  Don't rush it, you need to get this part of the configuration correct before starting to use/selling from your new shopping cart.

Login to the Admin section of your osCommerce store

SETUP OF TAX ZONES

Follow the Location / Taxes link, and then Tax Zones

1. Click the insert button and add the first Zone as below:

   Zone Name:
   
   Description:
   

2. Then click the insert button again, to save.
3. Click the insert button again to add the second Zone as below:

   Zone Name:
   
   Description:
   

4. Then click the insert button again, to save.
5. Now assign countries to RoW Zone
6. Click to highlight the RoW Zone (created in no.1 above) then click the details button.
7. Then click the insert button  to add the countries.
8. By default All Countries and All Zones should be selected, if not select these.
9. Then click the insert button again, to save.
10. Now assign countries to EC Zone
11. Click to highlight the EC Zone (created in no.3 above) then click the details button.
12. Then click the insert button to add a country.
13. Select United Kingdom.
14. Then click the insert button again, to save.
15. To complete the EC Zone you should insert all the following countries:

VAT Territory of the EC:

1. United Kingdom and the Isle of Man
2. Austria
3. Belgium
4. Denmark, except the Faroe Islands and Greenland
5. Finland
6. France, including Monaco
7. Germany, except Busingen and the Isle of Heligoland
8. Greece
9. The Republic of Ireland
10. Italy, except the communes of Livigno and Campione d’Italia and the Italian waters of Lake Lugano
11. Luxembourg
12. The Netherlands
13. Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira
14. Spain, including the Balearic Islands but excluding Cueta and Melilla
15. Sweden

For an up-to-date list you should check the Government VAT web site (www.hmce.gov.uk) by searching for "VAT Territory of the EC"

SETUP OF TAX RATES

1. Click the Tax Rates link, then click the new tax rate button.
2. For the Tax Class select Taxable Goods
3. For the Zone select EC, and then complete as follows:

   Tax Rate (%): (assuming the current rate is 17.5%)
   Description: (assuming the current rate is 17.5%)
   Priority:

4. Then click the insert button, to save.
5. Click the new tax rate button again.
6. Then for the Zone select RoW, and then complete as follows:

   Tax Rate (%): (assuming the current rate is 17.5%)
   Description: (assuming the current rate is 17.5%)
   Priority:

7. Then click the insert button, to save.
8. Finally, ensure you add a relevant statement to the catalog\includes\footer.php file

eg: "All prices are in UK Pounds sterling & include VAT at 17.5%"

Try here for details on how to edit PHP files

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Login to the Admin section of your osCommerce store

Then follow the Configuration link, then the link My Store - here you should update/change the following:

• To set to EXCLUSIVE:  The variable "Display Price with Tax" should be set to false.
• To set to INCLUSIVE:  The variable "Display Price with Tax" should be set to true.