[GH-ISSUE #1166] [Feature] Automatically split sales tax, proportionally to split categories #42106

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opened 2026-04-26 01:44:37 -05:00 by GiteaMirror · 8 comments
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Originally created by @MattDemers on GitHub (Jun 22, 2023).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/issues/1166

Verified feature request does not already exist?

  • I have searched and found no existing issue

💻

  • Would you like to implement this feature?

Pitch: what problem are you trying to solve?

When using the split transactions, I would like to be able to proportionally assign remaining post-tax amounts to categories.

For example:

Total amount, with tax: $100
Category 1: $60
Category 2: $30
Pre-Tax total: $90
Money left-over (tax): $10

I'd like to have it so that more of the remaining $10 (the tax) would be assigned to Category 1, then Category 2, because Category 1 is a larger proportion of the transaction. I'm unsure of whether it would be related to the proportion of the subtotal or the total, but my terrible math guesses that $6.5 of the remaining $10 would go to Category 1, and $3.5 would go to Category 2.

I searched GitHub for "proportional sales tax", "sales tax" and "split transactions tax" and found nothing that addressed this. Since Reddit is currently locked, I cannot search there. I've seen topics asking about clarity/bugs when it comes to calculations in-field, but I am unfamiliar about how to calculate these proportions myself.

I am using self-hosted Actual, using Docker.

Describe your ideal solution to this problem

With YNAB4 (Classic), having a remaining unassigned amount of a split transaction, and attempting to click off of the transaction, would give a popup asking what the user would like to do with the remaining amount. One of the options was "Assign proportionally to categories (Sales Tax)" which did the behavior described above.

That behavior, or a literal "Sales Tax Distribution" button, or a button that says "proportional distribute" would be best.

Teaching and learning

No response

Originally created by @MattDemers on GitHub (Jun 22, 2023). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/issues/1166 ### Verified feature request does not already exist? - [X] I have searched and found no existing issue ### 💻 - [ ] Would you like to implement this feature? ### Pitch: what problem are you trying to solve? When using the split transactions, I would like to be able to proportionally assign remaining post-tax amounts to categories. For example: Total amount, with tax: $100 Category 1: $60 Category 2: $30 Pre-Tax total: $90 Money left-over (tax): $10 I'd like to have it so that more of the remaining $10 (the tax) would be assigned to Category 1, then Category 2, because Category 1 is a larger proportion of the transaction. I'm unsure of whether it would be related to the proportion of the *subtotal* or the *total*, but my terrible math guesses that $6.5 of the remaining $10 would go to Category 1, and $3.5 would go to Category 2. I searched GitHub for "proportional sales tax", "sales tax" and "split transactions tax" and found nothing that addressed this. Since Reddit is currently locked, I cannot search there. I've seen topics asking about clarity/bugs when it comes to calculations in-field, but I am unfamiliar about how to calculate these proportions myself. I am using self-hosted Actual, using Docker. ### Describe your ideal solution to this problem With YNAB4 (Classic), having a remaining unassigned amount of a split transaction, and attempting to click off of the transaction, would give a popup asking what the user would like to do with the remaining amount. One of the options was "Assign proportionally to categories (Sales Tax)" which did the behavior described above. That behavior, or a literal "Sales Tax Distribution" button, or a button that says "proportional distribute" would be best. ### Teaching and learning _No response_
GiteaMirror added the feature label 2026-04-26 01:44:37 -05:00
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@github-actions[bot] commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2023):

Thanks for sharing your idea!

This repository is now using lodash style issue management for enhancements. This means enhancement issues will now be closed instead of leaving them open. This doesn’t mean we don’t accept feature requests, though! We will consider implementing ones that receive many upvotes, and we welcome contributions for any feature requests marked as needing votes (just post a comment first so we can help you make a successful contribution).

The enhancement backlog can be found here: https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/issues?q=label%3A%22needs+votes%22+sort%3Areactions-%2B1-desc+

Don’t forget to upvote the top comment with 👍!

<!-- gh-comment-id:1603109220 --> @github-actions[bot] commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2023): :sparkles: Thanks for sharing your idea! :sparkles: This repository is now using lodash style issue management for enhancements. This means enhancement issues will now be closed instead of leaving them open. This doesn’t mean we don’t accept feature requests, though! We will consider implementing ones that receive many upvotes, and we welcome contributions for any feature requests marked as needing votes (just post a comment first so we can help you make a successful contribution). The enhancement backlog can be found here: https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/issues?q=label%3A%22needs+votes%22+sort%3Areactions-%2B1-desc+ Don’t forget to upvote the top comment with 👍! <!-- feature-auto-close-comment -->
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@ToniCipriani commented on GitHub (May 1, 2024):

Was trying out the Distribute functionality and found it only does equal splits. Was looking for this. instead.

Basically it is re-implementing YNAB4's split transaction functionality, and like @MattDemers mentioned, it is good for splitting taxes, tips and even currency conversion.

image

<!-- gh-comment-id:2089243507 --> @ToniCipriani commented on GitHub (May 1, 2024): Was trying out the Distribute functionality and found it only does equal splits. Was looking for this. instead. Basically it is re-implementing YNAB4's split transaction functionality, and like @MattDemers mentioned, it is good for splitting taxes, tips and even currency conversion. ![image](https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/assets/2412685/09525a47-1aa9-43bf-9a5b-1ddde66f2753)
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@jkrehm commented on GitHub (Jul 1, 2024):

The lack of this feature is my biggest stumbling block to using Actual. A Walmart trip may include 5 different categories and having to do the math to proportionally distribute the taxes is prohibitively time consuming. I could swag the amounts, but I would much prefer the tool figure out for me at the press of a button.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2200262709 --> @jkrehm commented on GitHub (Jul 1, 2024): The lack of this feature is my biggest stumbling block to using Actual. A Walmart trip may include 5 different categories and having to do the math to proportionally distribute the taxes is prohibitively time consuming. I could swag the amounts, but I would much prefer the tool figure out for me at the press of a button.
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@ToniCipriani commented on GitHub (Jul 1, 2024):

The lack of this feature is my biggest stumbling block to using Actual. A Walmart trip may include 5 different categories and having to do the math to proportionally distribute the taxes is prohibitively time consuming. I could swag the amounts, but I would much prefer the tool figure out for me at the press of a button.

As a workaround right now, I just copy it as a mathematical formula, e.g. if I have a foreign transaction that is $10, but in my currency it's $13 when processed, I just take *(13/10) and paste it and hit Enter to all the subcategory lines.

Likewise if your tax rate is 5%, you can just paste *(1+0.05) to all the lines.

Mind you this only works on the desktop client, there's no freeform Excel-like entry on mobile.

But in your situation, I do it manually anyways even with YNAB, simply because some items are not taxed (e.g. grocery food items vs household cleaning stuff).

<!-- gh-comment-id:2200275497 --> @ToniCipriani commented on GitHub (Jul 1, 2024): > The lack of this feature is my biggest stumbling block to using Actual. A Walmart trip may include 5 different categories and having to do the math to proportionally distribute the taxes is prohibitively time consuming. I could swag the amounts, but I would much prefer the tool figure out for me at the press of a button. As a workaround right now, I just copy it as a mathematical formula, e.g. if I have a foreign transaction that is $10, but in my currency it's $13 when processed, I just take `*(13/10)` and paste it and hit Enter to all the subcategory lines. Likewise if your tax rate is 5%, you can just paste `*(1+0.05)` to all the lines. Mind you this only works on the desktop client, there's no freeform Excel-like entry on mobile. But in your situation, I do it manually anyways even with YNAB, simply because some items are not taxed (e.g. grocery food items vs household cleaning stuff).
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@MattDemers commented on GitHub (Jan 16, 2025):

For people looking for something to achieve this function, I've created a Google Sheet with formulas/instructions to get the same end result: proportional tax distribution for your big receipts (Costco, I'm looking at you...).

Google Sheet (Protected, but make a copy)

[edit]: I also took inspiration from above to make a little webapp that does this: TaxCalc

<!-- gh-comment-id:2596600766 --> @MattDemers commented on GitHub (Jan 16, 2025): For people looking for something to achieve this function, I've created a Google Sheet with formulas/instructions to get the same end result: proportional tax distribution for your big receipts (Costco, I'm looking at you...). [Google Sheet (Protected, but make a copy)](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nwgqnWvegZLLRvsPraqmZuK0bxvGhm2idweEmDGjmGY/edit?usp=sharing) [edit]: I also took inspiration from above to make a little webapp that does this: [TaxCalc](https://github.com/MattDemers/proportional-tax-calculator/tree/main)
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@mcalligator commented on GitHub (Apr 20, 2025):

A later, more generic form of this feature request is tracked at Automatically enter remaining amount in split #2872.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2817350846 --> @mcalligator commented on GitHub (Apr 20, 2025): A later, more generic form of this feature request is tracked at [Automatically enter remaining amount in split #2872](https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/issues/2872).
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@Kerrick commented on GitHub (Dec 24, 2025):

A later, more generic form of this feature request is tracked at Automatically enter remaining amount in split #2872.

I don't think that is the same feature, or a more generic form of the same feature. This is a request to ‘divide the remaining amount among all existing splits proportional to their amounts. This is not currently possible with any workflow; you have to pull out a separate calculator. That is a request to streamline the functionality of an existing button without needing a click.

<!-- gh-comment-id:3690523068 --> @Kerrick commented on GitHub (Dec 24, 2025): > A later, more generic form of this feature request is tracked at [Automatically enter remaining amount in split #2872](https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/issues/2872). I don't think that is the same feature, or a more generic form of the same feature. This is a request to ‘divide the remaining amount among all existing splits proportional to their amounts. This is not currently possible with any workflow; you have to pull out a separate calculator. That is a request to streamline the functionality of an existing button without needing a click.
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@github-actions[bot] commented on GitHub (Apr 6, 2026):

🎉 This feature has been implemented in #7257 and will be released in the next version. Thanks for sharing your idea! 🎉

<!-- gh-comment-id:4195399135 --> @github-actions[bot] commented on GitHub (Apr 6, 2026): :tada: This feature has been implemented in #7257 and will be released in the next version. Thanks for sharing your idea! :tada: <!-- feature-implemented-comment -->
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Reference: github-starred/actual#42106