GST returns have changed

[dsherman]

I recently updated to the newest version of Manager, and now my GST reports are all broken – they don’t match the reports generated in my previous version (which was from 2019).

All my purchases with tax code “GST 0%” are now being included in Line 11. These are items like foreign purchases, or portions of shipping invoices that are GST-free. These should not be included in Line 11.

How can I fix this?

It may be related to this post:

Correct GST return

But I now have it working thank you so much. Incase anyone else in NZ wants to know I edit it in manager I put {% assign C11 = totalPurchases[GST_15] | plus: totalImports %} {% assign C12 = taxOnPurchases[GST_15] | default: 0.00Format: 0.00 %} {% assign C13 = GSTOnImports| default: 0.00Format: 0.00 %} {% if C12 %} {% assign C14 = taxOnPurchases[GST_15] | plus: gstOnImports %} {% else%} {% assign C14 = C13 Format: 0.00 %} {% endif %}

Code by @Wornout might work, but I’m afraid to try it for fear of breaking something else.

[eko]

You can always create a backup and import it as a new test business and try if the code works as expected.

[dsherman]

Fixed. For other users in NZ, I simply changed this line:
{% assign C11 = period | taxcode: GST_15, GST_0, GST_Exempt | tax_inclusive_purchases %}

to this:
{% assign C11 = period | taxcode: GST_15 | tax_inclusive_purchases %}

This follows the requirements of the IRD, shown here:

Disclaimer: I am not a registered accountant, and while this works for my own bookkeeping, it may not suit yours.

[Wornout]

I am glad someone finally agreed with me I have been saying for a year or more that the NZ GST return was wrong. but nobody wanted to listen. I even got asked for proof that it was wrong and I sent it to them but still no comment .Thats why I put my post up about changing it. So thanks for saying something.

They have not changed they have always been like it

[dsherman]

@Wornout, your posts have been very helpful.

For anyone interested, the above fix works for lazy New Zealanders (like me) who have not differentiated between GST collected by NZ suppliers versus overseas suppliers. In recent years, some overseas suppliers have started collecting GST, so I have taken the easy route and just thrown those invoices into Line 11. Bad, bad, bad me.

I took this a bit further last night, after reading and grokking Wornout’s posts about imported goods. Technically, Wornout is correct that imported goods should NEVER be included in line 11, so I decided to bite the bullet and start doing it properly. This necessitated a new tax code, “GST 15% Imported”, which I use for purchases from overseas suppliers. Purchases with this code must be included in the adjustments in line 13. The following is the complete report transformation that I’m using now:

{% assign GST_0 = “1a88fd08-a595-4e12-97d3-85fc165eecdc” %}
{% assign GST_15 = “ee8cacde-58da-48ec-8aa9-aa6acba9c32f” %}
{% assign GST_15_on_Imports = “5c741c75-e192-49a6-b4c0-56b0633484a9” %}
{% assign GST_Exempt = “705acb55-550e-458a-bf9a-c4c7021dc351” %}
{% assign GST_Adjustment = “d865c9b1-17b9-488b-b29b-b15c0b3c3246” %}
{% assign period = transactions | between: report.From, report.To %}
{% assign C5 = period | taxcode: GST_15, GST_0, GST_Exempt | tax_inclusive_sales | reversesign %}
{% assign C6 = period | taxcode: GST_0, GST_Exempt | tax_exclusive_sales | reversesign %}
{% assign C7 = period | taxcode: GST_15 | tax_inclusive_sales | reversesign %}
{% assign C8 = period | taxcode: GST_15 | tax_on_sales | reversesign %}
{% assign C9 = period | taxcode: GST_Adjustment | tax_on_sales | reversesign %}
{% assign C10 = period | taxcode: GST_15, GST_Adjustment | tax_on_sales | reversesign %}
{% assign totalImports = period | taxcode: GST_15_on_Imports | tax_inclusive_purchases %}
{% assign gstOnImports = period | taxcode: GST_15_on_Imports | tax_on_purchases %}
{% assign totalAdjustments = period | taxcode: GST_Adjustment | tax_inclusive_purchases %}
{% assign C11 = period | taxcode: GST_15 | tax_inclusive_purchases %}
{% assign C12 = period | taxcode: GST_15 | tax_on_purchases %}
{% assign C13 = period | taxcode: GST_Adjustment, GST_15_on_Imports | tax_on_purchases %}
{% assign C14 = period | taxcode: GST_15, GST_Adjustment, GST_15_on_Imports | tax_on_purchases %}
{% assign C15 = period | taxcode: GST_15, GST_Adjustment, GST_15_on_Imports | tax_amount %}
{% assign total = C15 | balance %}

The first five lines have UUIDs that will vary from user to user. Follow this post to find your UUIDs. (Be aware that you must manually type each UUID into the Liquid editor, as copying and pasting didn’t work for me!)

Localisation: GST/VAT worksheet programming guide

Developing GST/VAT Worksheet: Step 3 Correct the Tax codes UUID Open a Manger window in your browser (so it shows the page address bar). How to do this varies with operating system. In windows right click on a link and choose open in a new window) [NZ%20new%20window] Go to the tax code page in Manger in you business [NZ%20tax%20codes] Edit the page address to add “.json” (at the end of the address but before the parameters) [NZ%20Address%20bar] For each or your countries tax code the UUI…

The table has not changed at all, although I added a few lines so I can view the imported goods and other adjustments separately:

I’m still trying to figure out how to hide the appropriate duplicate line 15. Something is happening with the Liquid editor, and I’m having trouble with this part. It might need to be manually edited somehow. Anyone have any insights?

[Patch]

@dsherman

I’m still trying to figure out how to hide the appropriate duplicate line 15

I think the current version of Manager does not really support user editing of localisations, which is why you are having trouble doing it.

If you really want to see what is happening you can look in your Manager program directory at the file localization.json That will better show what you are trying to edit. Hopefully in time user editing of localisations will be re introduced.

[dsherman]

Thanks @Patch, that helps. Now that I know how it should look, how can I edit my json file? I see the export/import function has been discontinued, but is there a file somewhere that is can be edited manually?

[aoboau]

If using server editions, backup and edit Localizations.json. Go settings and import the modified settings. And restart manager-server.

[Patch]

@dsherman

how can I edit my json file

A text or json file editor.
Ultimately I think it would be good if you could submit your changes via the following, but that may have to wait for Lubos to restore Mangers support for it

How to implement country-specific report in Manager

I need to have localizations under version control and also have a system in place so everybody can contribute but changes will be merged only after review. I just created GitHub project at https://github.com/Manager-io/Localizations.json This is where all country-specific Manager databases will be stored in JSON format (this will allow for version control). There is a tutorial you can follow to get familiar with submission process.

[dsherman]

Thanks @aoboau and @Patch, those suggestions worked well. A bit of a chore, but we got there in the end.

[dsherman]

I recently noticed that my “GST payable” account has an unrealistic balance. When I investigated, I found that the GST reports generated by this version of Manager do not match the GST reports generated by the previous (unknown) version of Manager, circa March 2019. Two reports have changed significantly, even though the underlying financial data is the same.

I have confidence that my current version is correct, because I’ve looked under the hood and I understand what it’s doing. By contrast, the 2019 version is a “black box” that I never opened. I would like to investigate how the previous version worked, but the old localization.json file is now long gone, so I can’t “roll back”.

How can I get a copy of the old JSON file? I’d like to look at the code that governed the NZ GST report generation, so I can figure out how to explain the discrepancy.

More broadly, I hesitate to trust reports that can change whenever the program updates. Ideally, there should be a feature that locks the generated reports, so program updates don’t cause data loss.

[Patch]

@dsherman

How can I get a copy of the old JSON file?

Not sure if this goes back far enough for you https://github.com/Manager-io/Localizations.json/commits/master/English/New%20Zealand.json

@dsherman

More broadly, I hesitate to trust reports that can change

Reports in Manager are calculated dynamically. Any change in the input data or processing can change the output.
In practice I attach a pdf copy of Manager reports to the relevant transaction in Manage for example GST calculation worksheet to ATO payment. Creating a static report independent of any later changes.

[dsherman]

Github doesn’t go back far enough. Are previous versions still available?

Understood about saving a pdf. I essentially did that, but even with a pdf of the report, it’s pretty much impossible to guess what’s happening without the ability to hyperlink to the list of transactions.

[Patch]

Actually I think the report transformation are stored in the business file. So if you have a back of your business from that time, you can install Manager from a similar time on another computer and look at that.
See Restoring data issue - #2 by Patch

[dsherman]

Thanks @Patch, that worked well.

The old GST calculation for imports (version 19.78.40) was based on the net tax paid, times 23, divided by 3, as shown here:

{ %assign totalImports = taxOnSalesMinusTaxOnPurchases[GST_15_on_Imports] | times: -1 | times: 23 | divided_by: 3 | round: 2% }

My list of tax codes (at the time) did not include GST_15_on_Imports, so you would think this calculation would be zero. However, a GST payment that should have been entered as “no tax” was instead “GST_100”; the GST script (old version) did not include GST_100, and this payment somehow became included in the totalImports calculation.

Seeing how the old GST reports were calculated gave me the insight to find my error.

Going back to the original topic of this thread, the NZ discussion regarding what to do with GST on low-value imported goods has taken another turn. I spoke with IRD, and they say that all imported purchases that include GST on the invoice should be included in Line 11, and not as an adjustment in Line 13, despite their instructions on the form. Ask a silly question, get a silly answer. (@Wornout might like to take note.)

Thank you for your question. Any GST your business has been charged under the GST on Low-Value Imported Goods (LVIG) system should be claimed in box 11 and not box 13.

I acknowledge where the confusion comes from as these goods are imported into New Zealand, however they are not considered ‘Import Adjustments’ that would require them to go into box 13. This is limited to GST charged by the New Zealand Customs Service at the border. The overseas business should be issuing a full tax invoice for LVIG which is what allows these goods to be claimed in box 11.

In the absence of a tax invoice, a refund would need to be sought from the overseas supplier and the purchase would not appear in either box.

If you have further questions, please let us know.

[Wornout]

Thanks disherman, But I will go by what my IRD manager tells me as a tax agent for IRD I have a manager within IRD that tells me how/what etc to do and she said it goes in line 13. I have done it that way for 5 of my clients and its never been audited or questioned and she over sees them all and never knocked any of them back