Overview
There are two challenges facing the developer attempting to compute withhoding taxes: providing a framework for the expression of complex formulas, and keeping track of changes to the formulas.
For most appications, hard-coding of tax formulas is simply not a workable solution. TaxControls instead provides a simple API and tax tables which do not require compilation when changes occur.
This software provides convenience in programming, but the bigger issue is maintenance of the tax tables. Because the federal, state and local tables are constantly changing, payroll programming requires a well-designed maintenance and distribution framework. Timeliness is crucial, because incorrect withholdings carry a risk of tax penalties for the employer.
That's where Caliber Technology can save you time and money. We monitor the state web sites daily for changes, and provide a small, convenient table format with all the formulas. The tables even include embedded user instructions for the various state and local employee setup requirements.
Available Platforms
TaxControls components are available on the following platforms:
- Microsoft COM+ (as an ActiveX DLL)
- Java
- C# (Microsoft .NET or Mono)
Features
Our TaxControls component:
- Enables extremely quick withholding calculations by using "pre-compiled" objects for computations
- Allows easy table maintenance by hosting multiple versions of the same tax. You can download taxes for the new year in December, as the software automatically uses the correct table version according to pay date!
- Allows lookup of taxes by ZIP code, allowing your software to suggest appropriate withholdings during setup of new employees.
- Runs on ActiveX, Java and .NET platforms
Thus a wide variety of languages can be accomodated.
Setting up the software
You can easily download TaxControls software to check it out for yourself. Click here to download the self-extracting installation program. A demo VB project is included, which will give you a clear sample of how the component works.
Programming
To use the ActiveX DLL in your project, you must include it in your project's "References". In VB or VBA, open the References dialog box (under Tools | References or Project | References), then check the entry "TaxControls ActiveX DLL".
Here's a sample of how the ActiveX DLL is used:
Dim ct as New CTaxControl
ct.DataFilename="us.tax"
ct.Earnings = 50000#
ct.FilingStatus = FilingMarried
ct.SelectedTax = "FICA"
MsgBox ct.TaxAmount
The TaxControls component is designed to allow computation of taxes without the need for a form or user interface. For server-based applications, this allows your software to handle tax calculation programmatically, then return the results to clients. With this design, only the server software requires a TaxControls component and Tax Table file.
The Update Process
After registration, the TaxControls component may be distributed royalty-free with your application. After purchasing a subscription to the Tax Update service, you will receive notices of updates by email. You then download the latest table from our Web site at your convenience.
Support
All subscribers and developers are given full telephone support. We'll help you with setup, programming, deployment, you name it. Just email us at support@taxupdate.com or give us a call at 832-429-8821 with any questions you have.
Costs
TaxControls may be downloaded, and evaluated free of charge. To license the software, you must register your downloaded copy. Prices:
- ActiveX Dll, JavaBean, or .NET Component - $199 one-time fee
- Tax Update Subscription - $4995/year (or $1375/quarter or $500/month)
A separate "Level 2" subscription is available which includes all the specific Ohio and Pennsylvania local taxes. These local tables involve thousands of jurisdictions, and much higher overhead for monitoring and updating. Call us at 832-429-8821 for more information on this option.