When local sales tax rates change, updating your CoreBridge tax items and tax groups keeps new estimates accurate. Open estimates and orders that were created before the rate change keep their prior tax calculation until you refresh them individually. This article explains how to update tax rates and refresh tax on existing estimates and orders.
Note: For initial tax setup, see Tax Items and Tax Groups.
Table of Contents
- Why Edit Existing Tax Items
- Update a Tax Item Rate
- Why Open Estimates Don't Auto-Update
- Refresh Tax on an Existing Estimate
- Refresh Tax on an Existing Order
- Best Practices
- Related Articles
Why Edit Existing Tax Items
When a tax agency rate changes, edit the existing tax item rather than creating a duplicate. Editing the existing item keeps your tax groups, customer assignments, and reporting consistent. Creating a new tax item for the same agency can leave old rates on existing records and make tax reporting harder to reconcile.
Update a Tax Item Rate
1. Navigate to Settings / Accounting / Tax Items.
2. Select the tax item that needs a rate change (for example, a county or city tax item).
3. Update the Tax Rate field to the new percentage.
4. Confirm the tax item is still linked to the correct Associated Tax Groups, then click Save.
Note: After you save, the updated rate is reflected on the tax group total. New estimates that use that tax group will calculate with the new rate automatically.
Why Open Estimates Don't Auto-Update
Estimates store the tax calculation that was in effect when the estimate was last saved. Updating a tax item or tax group does not automatically recalculate tax on estimates that are already open. Each open estimate must be refreshed individually.
Note: There is no bulk self-service tool to refresh tax on all open estimates at once.
Refresh Tax on an Existing Estimate
1. Open the estimate from Sales / Estimates.
2. Select the Estimate Details tab.
3. Under Accounting Details, click the Tax Group dropdown.
4. Clear the current selection, then re-select the same tax group (for example, your default local tax group).
5. Save the estimate. The tax line recalculates using the updated tax group rate.
Note: Repeat these steps for each open estimate that needs the new rate.
Refresh Tax on an Existing Order
Orders follow the same principle as estimates. To refresh tax on an open order:
1. Open the order from Sales / Orders.
2. Click Edit Order (if the order is not already in edit mode).
3. On the Order Details tab, under Accounting Details, clear and re-select the Tax Group.
4. Save the order to apply the recalculated tax.
Best Practices
- Update tax items as soon as you receive official notice of a rate change.
- After updating rates, spot-check one estimate and one order to confirm the new total before refreshing a large batch.
- If you have many open estimates, work through them in batches or contact CoreBridge Support to discuss options for your volume.