How to charge sales tax on an invoice in AcboBooks

In this lesson you will

Choose the rate or tax group for an invoice
Control which lines are taxed
Override the rate on a single line
Know where the tax is recorded

Before you start

An invoice with one taxed line and the Springfield combined tax group chosen

Fill in the invoice

Step 1: Add the lines

Go to Customers → Create Invoice, choose the customer and add the items. Each line's Tax box is ticked or not from the item's Taxable item setting; you can change it on the line. Here the tote bags are taxed and the design hours are not.

Taxed line: the tote bags
Untaxed line: design consulting
The rate for the invoice: Springfield combined (8%) · group
Tax: 8% of the $800 taxed, $64.00
Save Invoice

Create Invoice with a taxed and an untaxed line, the tax group and the tax total

Step 2: Choose the rate under Subtotal

Open the list under Subtotal and pick the rate or tax group for where the sale happens. The percentage fills the Tax box and the tax is worked out on the ticked lines. Always pick from this list rather than typing a percentage: a typed rate isn't linked to an agency and shows as Unassigned on the by-agency report.

Step 3: Override one line if you need to

The Tax % column is blank for lines that use the invoice rate. Type a percentage into a line's Tax % box only when that line is taxed differently. Items with their own sales tax code fill this box for you.

Tip: Sales receipts and credit memos have the same rate list next to the tax amount, so cash sales and refunds report under the right agency too. Estimates and sales orders have it as well, and the rate you pick there carries over when you turn them into an invoice.

What happens when you save

Step 4: Click Save Invoice

The customer owes the total including tax. The tax itself is credited to Sales Tax Payable, a liability: it is money you are holding for the agencies, not income. It stays there until you record a payment with Pay Sales Tax.

Recap

Pick a rate or tax group under Subtotal
Tick or untick Tax on each line
Use Tax % for a line taxed at a different rate
Know that sales tax builds up in Sales Tax Payable until you pay it

Saved in this browser only. No account needed.

Questions

Why does my tax show as Unassigned on Sales Tax by Agency?

The invoice's percentage was typed into the Tax box instead of picked from the rate list. Edit the invoice and choose the rate or group from the list.

Can one invoice use two different rates?

Yes. The invoice rate applies to the ticked lines, and any line with its own Tax % uses that instead.

Screenshots from AcboBooks 0.2.2 with the built-in sample company. Updated October 25, 2026. Your screens may differ slightly with another version or window size.

Charge sales tax on an invoice