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Guidelines for the tax rule import template

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This article applies to:AvaTax

Use this information when filling out the tax rule import template.

Column Column heading Type (size) Requirement Description
A TaxRuleId Integer Required Tax rule record number. This is used to identify errors and isn't imported. 
B ProcessCode Integer Required

What you want done with this rule.

  • 0 = Delete rule
  • 1 = Insert/update rule

If you're deleting a rule, values in TaxRuleTypeId, Country, State, JurisTypeId, JurisCode, EntityUseCode, TaxCode, TaxTypeId, EffDate, and Threshold must match the current settings of the rule.
C TaxRuleTypeId Integer Required

Type of tax rule.

  • 0 = Excise tax
  • 1 = Rate override rule
  • 2 = Base override rule
  • 3 = Entity use rule
  • 4 = Product taxability rule
D TaxRuleSubtypeId Text (1) Optional Leave this column blank.
E Country Text (2) Required

Two-character country code.

  • US = United States
  • CA = Canada
  • AU = Australia
  • NZ = New Zealand
  • TW = Taiwan
F Region Text (3) Required

Two- or three-character state or province code (e.g. AL, AK, AZ, etc.)

If you're creating a tax rule for a country-level rate, enter the two-character country code in this column.
G JurisTypeId Text (3) Required

Jurisdiction type.

  • CNT = Country
  • STA = State/Province (Region)
  • CTY = County
  • CIT = City
  • STJ = Special Tax Jurisdiction
H JurisCode Text (10) Required

The jurisdiction code for the rule. Use our codes for this section.

Exceptions:

  • An asterisk (*) indicates that it applies to all the jurisdictions of the type specified by JurisTypeId. This asterisk is only applicable for county, city, and special tax jurisdictions. See this guide for additional details.
  • For a state-level rule, the state JurisCode is required and applies to all instances of that level in the state.
  • For a county-level rule, the county JurisCode is required. 
I JurisName Text (200) Optional The jurisdiction's name. This is only informational and won't appear in the tax rule once imported to AvaTax.
J IsAllJuris Boolean Optional

Whether the tax rule applies to one or all jurisdictions in a tax region.

  • 0 = The tax rule only applies to the identified jurisdiction (column G). This is the default.
  • 1 = The tax rule extends to all jurisdictions in the tax region. This is generally not recommended for tax rules in countries outside of the US, or for CTY, CIT, or STJ rules in the US.
K TaxCode Text (25)

Required for product taxability rules

Optional for other rule types

An Avalara tax code or custom tax code indicating the category of product, service, or charge.

If a tax rule applies to a custom tax code, make sure to create your code first.
L EntityUseCode Text (25)

Required for entity use rules

Optional for other rule types

 System or custom entity use code. Some use codes for the United States and Canada are different, so the applicable country is shown beside the code.
  • A = Federal government (United States)
  • B = State government (United States)
  • C = Tribe / Status Indian / Indian band (both)
  • D = Foreign diplomat (both)
  • E = Charitable or benevolent org (both)
  • F = Religious or educational org (both)
  • G = Resale (both)
  • H = Commercial agricultural production (both)
  • I = Industrial production / manufacturer (both)
  • J = Direct pay permit (United States)
  • K = Direct mail (United States)
  • L = Other (requires Exempt Reason Desc) (both)
  • N = Local government (United States)
  • P = Commercial aquaculture (Canada)
  • Q = Commercial fishery (Canada)
  • R = Non-resident (Canada)
  • MED1 = US MDET with exempt Sales Tax
  • MED2 = US MDET with taxable Sales Tax
M TaxTypeId Text (1) Required The type of tax this rule applies to.

Domestic (US)

  • B = Both sales and use (default)
  • E = Excise
  • S = Sales
  • U = Use

International (VAT)

  • B = Both input and output (default)
  • O = Output
  • I = Input
N RateTypeId Text Optional For a rate override rule (TaxRuleTypeId 1), this determines what rate type is overridden.

For a product taxability rule (TaxRuleTypeId 4), this determines what rate type is applied to a product.

Rate type availability varies by jurisdiction. To check which rate types are available for a specific jurisdiction, create a tax rule directly in AvaTax.

Domestic (US)

  • F = Food
  • G = General (default)
  • L = Linen rental
  • M = Medical devices
  • R = Rental

International (VAT)

  • A = Reduced Rate A VAT
  • B = Reduced Rate B VAT
  • I = Increased Standard VAT
  • P = Parking VAT
  • Q = Super Reduced VAT
  • R = Reduced VAT
  • S = Standard VAT (default)
  • Z = Zero Rate VAT
O Value Decimal Required Varies by rule type.
  • Rate override rule = Override rate. Format as a decimal (i.e., .05 to indicate 5%). 1 indicates inherit standard rate
  • Base override rule = Base rate. Format as a decimal (i.e., .05 to indicate 5%).
  • Entity use rule = 0 is exempt. 1 is taxable.
  • Product taxability rule = 0 is non-taxable. 1 is taxable.
  • For international product taxability rules, use 1 for zero-rate products to indicate the product is taxable at the zero rate.
P Threshold Decimal Optional Minimum amount at which a rate override or product taxability rule applies. Blank or 0 indicates no threshold.
Q Cap Decimal Optional Maximum amount to which a rate override or product taxability rule applies. Blank or 0 indicates no cap.
R Options Text (100) Optional
  • Document = The cap applies to the entire invoice. Applies to rule types 1 or 4.
  • TaxAll = Entire amount should be taxed if the taxable amount exceeds the threshold. Applies to rule types 1 or 4.
  • TaxCap = The cap is on the maximum tax rather than the maximum amount. Applies to rule type 1.
  • TaxDepends = The taxability of this item depends on the taxability of other physical items. This only applies to product taxability rules (type 4).
  • RateDepends = The rate of this item is determined as the highest rate from all qualified items, where qualified items are physical items originating in an EU country.
S IsPro Number Optional Indicates whether this rule applies to only AvaTax Update Pro and SST accounts.
  • 0 = Non-AvaTax Update Pro (default)
  • 1 = AvaTax Update Pro and SST accounts only
T EffDate Date (10) Optional Initial effective date for this rule in yyyy-mm-dd or mm/dd/yyyy format.
U EndDate Date (10) Optional Expiration date for this rule in yyyy-mm-dd or mm/dd/yyyy format.
V Description Text (255) Optional Description of the tax rule.
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