ACR tips and tricks

The Advanced Controller Report (ACR) is a useful tool to view and double-check order and tax data for each state return. You can download order information in this format to verify return information, reconcile tax amounts in your account, and view shipment information on an item level.

The Advanced Controller Report is intended for internal data analysis only. State tax returns may contain additional calculations (i.e. special rounding, timely filing discounts, etc.), and may not always match values shown on the ACR.

How to download an ACR

1. In ShipCompliant, go to Reports and click View Reports.
   
   
   
   
2. Find the report you'd like to download the ACR for, and expand its information by clicking the arrow.
   
   
   
   
3. Click to download the linked order information.
   
   
   
   
4. Select the Advanced Controller Report format and click Download.
   
   
   
   

You can also search your orders and export a selection in the ACR format.

1. In ShipCompliant, go to Orders and click Search (or Adv. Search).
   
   
   
2. Search for the orders you'd like to include on the ACR.
   
   
   
   
3. Select the orders you'd like to include on the ACR, then click Export.
   
   
   
   
4. Select the Advanced Controller Report format and click Download.
   
   

How to use the ACR to reconcile reports

You can use the ACR to double check your tax information for each report, or for a group of orders. You can view order information on your ACR broken down by Shipment or Item. The Shipments tab shows information by shipment, each of which may include more than one item. The Items tab breaks down information by product or item sold, and can be helpful in pinpointing errors or problems with order information. Switch between these using the tabs at the bottom of your Excel file.

It can be helpful to compare the ACR, information on the Reports page in ShipCompliant, and totals listed on your report. These numbers should all match, but if you find that they don't, here are some things to consider:

• There may be negative values on the report (refunds). ShipCompliant's system is not set up to report refunds, because each state requires them to be reported in a different way. For example, some states require filing a separate report for refunds.
• Filing discounts on the report will not be taken into consideration on the ACR.
• Special rounding requirements by the state may lead to inconsistent totals.
• Certain non-taxable products may be listed on the ACR. The ACR will show all orders for your specified state and time period. This may include items that are not taxed in the state you're looking at. For example, some states levy tax on food or freight, while others don't; these may show on your ACR, but not on your report, which would lead to a difference in total sales. You must filter out these products to get accurate numbers when reconciling reports.

Here's the process you can follow when reconciling a report's information with the ACR:

1. Go to Reports and download the report you'd like to reconcile.
   
   
   
   
2. Delete any negative line items (refunds) from the report.
3. Follow the steps in the previous section to download the ACR. Include all the orders that are found on the report you downloaded.
4. Compare Gross Sales on the ACR and the report you downloaded.
   1. On the ACR, go to the Shipments tab.
   2. Add the totals in column AB (Shipment Subtotal) and AC (Shipment Freight).
   3. Compare this total with the Gross Sales total on your report.
5. Compare Taxable Sales on the ACR and the report you downloaded.
   1. On the ACR, go to the Items tab.
   2. Check column Q (Product Type) and remove nontaxable items like food or freight. (Nontaxable items vary by state. To view nontaxable items for the state you're looking at, go to its State Details - Tax Summary page.)
   3. Find the total of your taxable sales in column X (Extended Price).
   4. Compare this total with the Taxable Sales total on your report.
6. Compare Tax Due on the ACR and the report you downloaded.
   1. On the ACR, go to the Shipments tab.
   2. Check column AG (Shipment Sales Tax Due).
   3. Compare this total with the Tax Due total on your report.