GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 581889
Tax Table "None" vs Taxable column inconsistency in GUI
Last modified: 2018-06-29 22:21:21 UTC
Please describe the problem: I have created a new vendor, and set no tax table under Payment information (I mean, the Tax table check box is unticked). When I create a new invoice for this vendor, each line has a tax table filled in automatically, and the line is marked as tax related. Steps to reproduce: 1. Create a new vendor, make sure the Tax Table check box is unticked under Payment Information 2. Create a new invoice for this vendor 3. Start entering lines in the invoice register Actual results: You should observe that although no tax table was enabled for this vendor, the lines are marked as Taxable and a tax table is filled in. Expected results: The invoice lines should not be marked as taxable and the tax table should not be filled in. Does this happen every time? Yes Other information:
I notice that the Tax Table check box has this as tooltip: "Override the global tax table?" Perhaps that is part of the confusion. I assumed that unsetting this check box would mean this vendor's bills aren't taxable. But instead this check box merely allows you to configure a custom tax table for this vendor. However, I haven't found out where I can configure this "Global Tax Table". I don't find an option for this in the Preferences menu, nor in the tax table editor. I also figured out you can have "None" as tax table, which is a good workaround, but the invoice lines remain marked as taxable. I do think though that it makes more sense to be able to really exempt a vendor from tax altogether, and that an unticked Tax Table check box means "Not Taxable". So in short, 2 issues: * There doesn't seem to be a menu option to configure the "Global Tax Table". * The Tax Table check box should mean "This vendor's bills are not taxable" instead of "Use the global tax table". Using the global tax table should be an option in the dropdown If the user can really define a global tax table somewhere, then the option to use the global tax table should be a fixed entry in the dropdown menu, like the "None" entry. I realize that 2 issues should best be 2 bugreports. If you prefer, I'll split it up.
The global tax table is configured in File -> Properties Setting to 'none' should be equivalent to "non-taxable" -- is it requiring you to enter a tax table?
Created attachment 134499 [details] Tax table = none, but Taxable is checked Thanks for pointing me to the "Properties" under "File", I was searching in "Preferences" under "Edit". I have now set the default tax table to "None". There's still one confusion left: Tax Table "None" is the equivalent of non-taxable. However, as seen in the screenshot, the actual lines in the invoice show an "X" in column Taxable. No tax-table (or "None") but marked as taxable. To me this seems inconsistent. Or is there another use of the Taxable column I'm not aware of ?
In the light of Derek's comment, the part about undefinable Global Tax table is a non-issue (except maybe for better Business functions documentation). Also, now I have found the Global Tax table, it makes sense to have an override option, exactly as there is now with the Tax Table check box. The only thing left is that there is an inconsistency between Tax Table = "None" is equivalent to non-taxable, but the invoices still mark each line as Taxable, albeit with no Tax Table. So although it functions properly, there's a GUI inconsistency. I have changed the summary and severity for this bug to reflect the actual issue that's left. PS: I didn't reply explicitly to Derek's question whether I was required to enter a tax table. The answer is "No, I'm not". I was just getting very confused and the cause boils down to the ambiguity between Tax Table "None" and the Taxable column still suggesting taxable entries.
I'm trying to remember what the Taxable flag is for. (it's been years since I wrote that code). IIRC it was a simple way to mark a particular line-item non-taxable when you had a default tax-table set. But beyond that it's pretty meaningless, especially if you have no tax table.
*** Bug 656994 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
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