Please note that the original release of this 'Tech Tip' contained an error.  The setup values are represented by whole numbers, not decimals.

On July 1,2006 (and again on January 1,2008 and July 1, 2008) the Canadian GST (Goods and Services Tax) rate will be reduced.  This will also affect the HST rate for Shop Trac users with customers in the Maritime provinces.

Setup Data Rate Change

Login as SUPERVISOR and using the option Setup | Defaults change the 'Tax 2' rate to the new rate.  If needed, also change the 'HST Rate' field (scroll down to the bottom of the list) to the new HST rate.  These fields are displayed as whole numbers such as 5.00 and 14.00

Invoice Form Change

Some invoice forms (they are all unique and user defined) have a hard coded line that reads "7% GST" (or "15% HST").  If this is the case for your invoice then you will need to make changes to the form definitions.  If your form makes no reference to the percentage (other than the calculation) then no form changes are needed.  We suggest that this line simply reads 'GST/HST' to make future rate changes easier.

To change your form, login as SUPERVISOR and use the option Setup | Forms | Invoice.  From the first screen select the 'Process' option, to open the actual form format screen.  Use the following steps to change the form.  Please note that if you mess it up, simply press <ESC>, select 'Abort' and repeat the procedure.

The end result of this should be that the line now reads "GST/HST".  Due to the way Shop Trac handles form format files, you will also need to make one additional change to this file.  Each time the file is opened for editing, Shop Trac adds a line to the end of the file.  This extra line (or lines) may cause the invoice routines to print additional unneeded pages.  To remove these additional lines, continue as follows: