Safe harbor override

Note

This section describes an optional feature that you can include in your integration. It is not required for certification.

AFC provides an optional Safe Harbor Override (sovr), which allows you to adjust Federal traffic study percentages for:

Cellular
VoIP
Paging

Provide the following information for a Safe Harbor override:

Safe Harbor Type (sh)
Original Federal TAM (old)
New Federal TAM (new)

The Original and New Federal TAM values are decimals. For example, a 64.9% Federal TAM value is entered as “0.649”. The State TAM is calculated automatically (State TAM = 1.0 - Federal TAM).

Tip

Use a client profile with a custom configuration applied even though theCalcTaxes request gives you the flexibility to input Safe Harbor Override information for each transaction. This results in better performance from the AFC Tax Engine because your override settings are cached before tax calculation begins.

Why use a safe harbor override?

Default federal safe harbor percentages are used by the AFC Tax Engine:

Cellular: 37.1%
VoIP: 64.9%
Paging: 12%

Override the federal safe harbor percentage based on the result of a traffic study. The state safe harbor percentage is calculated automatically based on the overridden federal percentage.

Example

View request:

In this example, the VoIP safe harbor type (sh) is being overridden from the original Federal TAM (old) of 0.649 (64.9%) to your calculated Federal TAM (new) of 0.250 (25%).

{
  "cmpn": {
    "bscl": 0,
    "svcl": 0,
    "fclt": false,
    "frch": false,
    "reg": false
  },
  "inv": [
    {
      "doc": "TEST-VOIP INVOICE",
      "cmmt": false,
      "bill": {"cnty": "San Francisco","ctry": "USA","int": true,"geo": false,"city": "San Francisco","st": "CA","zip": "94102"
      },
      "cust": 0,
      "lfln": false,
      "date": "2018-04-01T12:00:00Z",
      "itms": [{  "ref": "Line Item 001 - VoIP/Access Charge",  "chg": 100,  "line": 0,  "sale": 1,  "incl": false,  "tran": 19,  "serv": 6,  "dbt": false,  "adj": false},{  "ref": "Line Item 002 - VoIP/Lines",  "chg": 0,  "line": 10,  "sale": 1,  "incl": false,  "tran": 19,  "serv": 21,  "dbt": false,  "adj": false},{  "ref": "Line Item 003 - VoIP/Equip Rental",  "chg": 25,  "line": 0,  "sale": 1,  "incl": false,  "tran": 19,  "serv": 37,  "dbt": false,  "adj": false}
      ],
      "invm": true,
      "dtl": true,
      "summ": true,
      "opt": [{  "key": "1",  "val": "VoIP Sample Line Items with TAM Traffic Study Override Invoice ABC-ZZZ"}
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sovr": [
    {
      "sh": 2,
      "old": 0.649,
      "new": 0.250
    }
  ]
}

View response:

The result of the Safe Harbor override can be seen on Federal-level Tax Type IDs (tid) 162, 226:

Total Charge (tchg) is 25 based on the requested 100 charge (Total Charge is 64.90 without the Safe Harbor override)
Exempt Sale Amount (exm) is 75 based on the requested 100 charge (Exempt Sale Amount is 35.10 without the Safe Harbor override)

State taxes are automatically updated based on the Federal override. The State TAM is 75% (1.0 - new Federal TAM) and can be seen on Tax Type IDs (tid) 161, 217, 450, 452, 453, 454:

Total Charge (tchg) is 75 based on the requested 100 charge (Total Charge is 35.10 without the Safe Harbor override)
Exempt Sale Amount (exm) is 25 based on the requested 100 charge (Exempt Sale Amount is 64.9 without the Safe Harbor override)

{
  "inv": [
    {
      "doc": "TEST-VOIP INVOICE",
      "itms": [{  "ref": "Line Item 001 - VoIP/Access Charge",  "txs": [    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 75,      "calc": 1,      "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",      "cid": 5,      "name": "Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Charge (VoIP)",      "exm": 25,      "lns": 0,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 253500,      "rate": 0.0475,      "sur": true,      "tax": 3.5625,      "lvl": 1,      "tid": 454    },    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 75,      "calc": 1,      "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",      "cid": 5,      "name": "CASF (VoIP)",      "exm": 25,      "lns": 0,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 253500,      "rate": 0.0056,      "sur": true,      "tax": 0.42,      "lvl": 1,      "tid": 453    },    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 75,      "calc": 1,      "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",      "cid": 5,      "name": "CA Teleconnect Fund (VoIP)",      "exm": 25,      "lns": 0,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 253500,      "rate": 0.0108,      "sur": true,      "tax": 0.81,      "lvl": 1,      "tid": 452    },    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 75,      "calc": 1,      "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",      "cid": 5,      "name": "CA High Cost Fund A (VoIP)",      "exm": 25,      "lns": 0,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 253500,      "rate": 0.0035,      "sur": true,      "tax": 0.2625,      "lvl": 1,      "tid": 450    },    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 75,      "calc": 1,      "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",      "cid": 5,      "name": "TRS (VoIP)",      "exm": 25,      "lns": 0,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 253500,      "rate": 0.005,      "sur": true,      "tax": 0.375,      "lvl": 1,      "tid": 217    },    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 75,      "calc": 1,      "cat": "E-911 CHARGES",      "cid": 7,      "name": "E911 (VoIP)",      "exm": 25,      "lns": 0,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 253500,      "rate": 0.0075,      "sur": false,      "tax": 0.5625,      "lvl": 1,      "tid": 161    },    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 25,      "calc": 1,      "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",      "cid": 5,      "name": "FUSF (VoIP)",      "exm": 75,      "lns": 0,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 0,      "rate": 0.184,      "sur": false,      "tax": 4.6,      "lvl": 0,      "tid": 162    },    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 25,      "calc": 1,      "cat": "REGULATORY CHARGES",      "cid": 6,      "name": "FCC Regulatory Fee (VoIP)",      "exm": 75,      "lns": 0,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 0,      "rate": 0.00302,      "sur": false,      "tax": 0.0755,      "lvl": 0,      "tid": 226    }  ]},{  "ref": "Line Item 002 - VoIP/Lines",  "txs": [    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 0,      "calc": 4,      "cat": "E-911 CHARGES",      "cid": 7,      "name": "San Francisco Access line Tax (VoIP)",      "exm": 0,      "lns": 10,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 377300,      "rate": 3.39,      "sur": false,      "tax": 33.9,      "lvl": 3,      "tid": 250    }  ]},{  "ref": "Line Item 003 - VoIP/Equip Rental",  "txs": [    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 25,      "calc": 1,      "cat": "SALES AND USE TAXES",      "cid": 1,      "name": "District Tax",      "exm": 0,      "lns": 0,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 377200,      "rate": 0.0125,      "sur": false,      "tax": 0.3125,      "lvl": 2,      "tid": 4    },    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 25,      "calc": 1,      "cat": "SALES AND USE TAXES",      "cid": 1,      "name": "Sales Tax",      "exm": 0,      "lns": 0,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 377300,      "rate": 0.0125,      "sur": false,      "tax": 0.3125,      "lvl": 2,      "tid": 1    },    {      "bill": true,      "cmpl": true,      "tm": 25,      "calc": 1,      "cat": "SALES AND USE TAXES",      "cid": 1,      "name": "Sales Tax",      "exm": 0,      "lns": 0,      "min": 0,      "pcd": 377300,      "rate": 0.06,      "sur": false,      "tax": 1.5,      "lvl": 1,      "tid": 1    }  ]}
      ],
      "summ": [{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 75,  "calc": 1,  "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",  "cid": 5,  "name": "Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Charge (VoIP)",  "exm": 25,  "lns": 0,  "pcd": 253500,  "rate": 0.0475,  "sur": true,  "tax": 3.5625,  "lvl": 1,  "tid": 454},{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 75,  "calc": 1,  "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",  "cid": 5,  "name": "CASF (VoIP)",  "exm": 25,  "lns": 0,  "pcd": 253500,  "rate": 0.0056,  "sur": true,  "tax": 0.42,  "lvl": 1,  "tid": 453},{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 75,  "calc": 1,  "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",  "cid": 5,  "name": "CA Teleconnect Fund (VoIP)",  "exm": 25,  "lns": 0,  "pcd": 253500,  "rate": 0.0108,  "sur": true,  "tax": 0.81,  "lvl": 1,  "tid": 452},{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 75,  "calc": 1,  "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",  "cid": 5,  "name": "CA High Cost Fund A (VoIP)",  "exm": 25,  "lns": 0,  "pcd": 253500,  "rate": 0.0035,  "sur": true,  "tax": 0.2625,  "lvl": 1,  "tid": 450},{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 75,  "calc": 1,  "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",  "cid": 5,  "name": "TRS (VoIP)",  "exm": 25,  "lns": 0,  "pcd": 253500,  "rate": 0.005,  "sur": true,  "tax": 0.375,  "lvl": 1,  "tid": 217},{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 75,  "calc": 1,  "cat": "E-911 CHARGES",  "cid": 7,  "name": "E911 (VoIP)",  "exm": 25,  "lns": 0,  "pcd": 253500,  "rate": 0.0075,  "sur": false,  "tax": 0.5625,  "lvl": 1,  "tid": 161},{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 25,  "calc": 1,  "cat": "CONNECTIVITY CHARGES",  "cid": 5,  "name": "FUSF (VoIP)",  "exm": 75,  "lns": 0,  "pcd": 0,  "rate": 0.184,  "sur": false,  "tax": 4.6,  "lvl": 0,  "tid": 162},{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 25,  "calc": 1,  "cat": "REGULATORY CHARGES",  "cid": 6,  "name": "FCC Regulatory Fee (VoIP)",  "exm": 75,  "lns": 0,  "pcd": 0,  "rate": 0.00302,  "sur": false,  "tax": 0.0755,  "lvl": 0,  "tid": 226},{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 0,  "calc": 4,  "cat": "E-911 CHARGES",  "cid": 7,  "name": "San Francisco Access line Tax (VoIP)",  "exm": 0,  "lns": 10,  "pcd": 377300,  "rate": 3.39,  "sur": false,  "tax": 33.9,  "lvl": 3,  "tid": 250},{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 25,  "calc": 1,  "cat": "SALES AND USE TAXES",  "cid": 1,  "name": "District Tax",  "exm": 0,  "lns": 0,  "pcd": 377200,  "rate": 0.0125,  "sur": false,  "tax": 0.3125,  "lvl": 2,  "tid": 4},{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 25,  "calc": 1,  "cat": "SALES AND USE TAXES",  "cid": 1,  "name": "Sales Tax",  "exm": 0,  "lns": 0,  "pcd": 377300,  "rate": 0.0125,  "sur": false,  "tax": 0.3125,  "lvl": 2,  "tid": 1},{  "max": 2147483647,  "min": 0,  "tchg": 25,  "calc": 1,  "cat": "SALES AND USE TAXES",  "cid": 1,  "name": "Sales Tax",  "exm": 0,  "lns": 0,  "pcd": 377300,  "rate": 0.06,  "sur": false,  "tax": 1.5,  "lvl": 1,  "tid": 1}
      ]
    }
  ]
}