How Tax Works When Submitting a PDF Invoice

When submitting a PDF invoice in Brightflag, how you enter tax depends on whether your client has enabled the Tax Engine.

For the full invoice submission steps, see:

• How to Submit an Hourly Fee PDF Invoice

• How to Submit a PDF Fixed Fee Invoice

What Is the Tax Engine?

Brightflag clients can choose whether to enable the Tax Engine.

• When the Tax Engine is disabled, Brightflag only captures the total tax amount

• When the Tax Engine is enabled, Brightflag captures detailed tax information, such as:

  • Tax jurisdiction

  • Tax type

  • Tax rate

  • Tax codes

This setting is controlled entirely by the client.

How Tax Entry Works During PDF Invoice Submission

If the Tax Engine is Disabled

What to do:

• Enter the total tax amount shown on your PDF invoice

• No additional tax details are required

If the Tax Engine is Enabled

You will see tax dropdown fields during invoice submission.

What to do:

1. Select the required values from the dropdowns:

   • Jurisdiction

   • Tax Type

   • Tax Rate

2. In the Taxable Amount field, enter the total portion of the invoice that the tax applies to. This usually equals the invoice total (before tax).

3. You do not need to enter anything in the Total Amount field — it will automatically populate based on the tax rate you selected.

4. Add additional tax lines if your invoice includes more than one tax rate

Common Questions

“The tax option I need is missing”

Contact your client to let them know what tax configuration is needed (jurisdiction, tax type, tax rate). Your client will work with their AP team and Brightflag to configure the necessary option.

“What if there is no tax on my invoice"

You still need to complete the tax fields. Select the Jurisdiction, choose a Tax Type (usually Exempt), and select a 0% Tax Rate. Enter the invoice total in the Taxable Amount field. The Total Amount will auto-calculate to 0, applying no tax while satisfying the required fields. If a 0% option isn’t available, contact your client to set it up.