Example: Compare compound taxes to standard taxes - Greenbits
This article applies to Greenbits.
You may need to configure two different types of taxes in Greenbits: standard taxes and compound taxes. This example compares compound taxes to standard taxes, to help you understand the difference.
In this example, you have an item that is $10.00 before any taxes or discounts are applied.
City sales tax of 5% | This is a standard tax, which is not part of the compound tax structure and is calculated on the $10.00 undiscounted, pre-tax starting price. |
$10.00 x 5% = $0.50 |
State excise tax of 15% | This tax is part of the compound tax structure and must be applied before any other compound taxes. | $10.00 x 15% = $1.50 |
State cannabis tax of 10% | This tax is also part of the compound tax structure, but must come after and must include the excise tax. The price of our item with the excise tax already applied is $10.00 + $1.50 = $11.50. | $11.50 x 10% = $1.15 |
Total price | After calculating all taxes in the proper order, each tax needs to be added to the base price to get the total price. | $10.00 + $0.50 + $1.50 + $1.15 = $13.15 total |
The order of compound taxes is important
For compound taxes, the order that the taxes are applied in can make a difference. Note that the Excise Tax should be applied first, followed by the State Cannabis Tax. Calculating these in a different order affects the calculation:
- $10.00 x 5% = $0.50.
- $10.00 x 10% = $1.00.
- $11.00 x 15% = $1.65.
- $10.00 + $0.50 + $1.00 + $1.65 = $13.15 total.
Although $13.15 total is the same, note how the allocation of the two compound taxes changed.
- With Excise Tax first, you are paying the state $1.50 in Excise Tax and $1.15 in Cannabis Tax.
- With Cannabis Tax first, you are paying the state $1.00 in Cannabis Tax and $1.65 in Excise Tax.
When you configure compound taxes, you can specify the order that the taxes are applied in.
Compare compound taxes to standard taxes
In contrast to compound taxes, if you only had standard taxes, Greenbits would calculate the tax rate by adding up the three tax rates and applying the total rate to the $10.00 starting price.
- 5% city sales tax + 15% state excise tax + 10% state cannabis tax = 30% total tax.
- $10.00 + 30% = $13.00 total.