Accounts Receivable (A/R) General Parameters – Specification
Overview
please note that the following parameters apply to all sub-systems.
Minimum Balance to Compute Charges, or %
- Enter the minimum balance, as an amount or percentage, on which late charges, such as interest and penalties, can be applied.
- For example: If you enter 50%, the minimum payment amount is 50% of the installment due. The user cannot enter less than the calculated amount on the Payment Data Entry form in Govern, unless the Allow Payments < Late Charges Due option at the top of this form, is selected, or if the user has Full Access Rights to the function. – to be validated for CC
Department Used from the Web
- If you are using the Web portal, select a default department for managing the Web data.
Bill Number Prefix
- Select this option to use a two-digit prefix for A/R billing. If this option is selected, the Bill Prefix field is displayed on the Govern Tax Posting to A/R batch process.
Use Exact Installment
- Select this option to prevent collection of the second installment through the Payment Data Entry form before the first has been collected. Otherwise, if the second installment is collected while the first remains outstanding, the second installment payment is registered as the total payment in the database.
Security by Area (Deprecated in 6.0)
- Select this option to enable the A/R Security form. This from is used to define user access rights to the A/R functions according to subsystem and the value of the selected field. This setting is valid for Govern for Windows only. In Govern.NET, security is managed through the Govern Security Manager (GSM).
Reapplication of Funds
- The following options are available on the Accounts Receivable General Parameters form for bypassing the reapplication of funds for Land Management (LM), Miscellaneous Billing (MB), Special Assessment (SA), and Self-Reported Tax (ST). When you apply the bypass to an overpayment made on a permit, Miscellaneous billing charge or special assessment project, it is saved as an Open Credit Transaction (OCT). Otherwise, the amount exceeding the payment due is applied to another permit, invoice, project, or Self-Reported Tax period. You are also able to apply the bypass or the reapplication of funds separately to the Miscellaneous Billing, the Land Management, the Special Assessment, and the Self -Reported Tax subsystems, by selecting or deselecting the following options, as applicable. New in 10.8
Use Proportional Distribution (Deprecated in 6.0)
- Select this option to enable Proportional Distribution for cash collection. With Proportional Distribution, payments are distributed according to the amount owed on each account.
- For example, if the client pays $100.00 but owes $150.00 for electricity and $50.00 for water, $75.00 is paid towards the electric bill and the remaining $25.00 towards the water bill.
Allow Apply Penalty from A/R Inquiry
- Select this option to display and enable the Apply Penalty button on the Detail tab of the A/R Inquiry function. With this button, the Govern user can apply penalties on selected accounts directly from the A/R Inquiry function and Cash Collection – to validate
Activate G/L Validation
- Select Activate G/L Validation if you are using Govern’s General Ledger interface, in order to ensure that valid G/L account types are entered for the A/R class, according to the transaction type selected. When this option is selected, only valid G/L account type fields are enabled on the G/L Distribution Parameters form. New G/L accounts are saved to the AR_PARM_GL_ACCNT table. If you are upgrading to Govern for Windows from an earlier version, the accounts saved to AR_PARM_GL_DISTR are transferred to this table. If you are not connected to a G/L interface database, the Account Type dropdown lists, on the G/L Distribution Parameters form, are populated from the AR_PARM_GL_ACCNT table. – to validate
Bypass Funds Reapplication
- When the Bypass LM/MB/ST/SA funds reapplication option is selected, unless an invoice number is specified, any payments will be recorded as an Open Credit transaction (OCT). Unless an invoice is referenced, the OCH amount cannot be applied to any invoices in the system. The system will now apply the OCH to a non-referenced invoice when the Bypass LM/MB/ST/SA funds reapplication option is selected. New in 10.8
ACH (PAP) Supported via Payment Plan
- See ACH Management for more information
- Select this option to add ACH Preauthorized Payment Support as an option for Payment Plans.
Deposit Number Setup
See A/R Deposit Parameters for the setup information and A/R Deposit Types
Activate Deposit Management
- Deprecated? in OpenForms 6.0. Deposit is MANDATORY.
Separate Deposit for Credit Card
- Select to record the credit card payments in a separate deposit number
Auto-Assign Deposit Number
- See A/R Deposit Parameters for all options
Prevent Override of the Deposit Number
- Deprecated?
ACH City and Bank Parameters
See A/R ACH Management for more information.
Destination Bank Name
- Enter the name of the bank that manages your ACH processing
Destination Routing No.
- Enter the routing number of the bank that manages your ACH processing. This is a unique eight digit number used to identify the financial institution.
Origin Bank Name
- Enter the name of your regular bank
Origin Routing No.
- Enter the routing number of this bank
Company ID (City ID)
- Enter the identification number for the city or company making the deposit, in the Company ID field. Typically, this is the same as the Federal Tax ID.
Bank Account
- Enter the account number of the bank entered in the Origin Bank Name field. This is a unique eight to seventeen digit number.
File Descriptor
- A file descriptor field is available in the ACH City and Bank Parameters group in the Accounts Receivable General Parameters form. This is used for specifying a custom ACH string to insert into the header of an ACH file.
- The File Descriptor string is different for each bank and so should be verified before it is entered. The string that is entered will appear as the first line the ACH file that is generated.
General Sub-systems
The following parameters are common to several subsystems
Link A/R to Names
- If this option is deselected the A/R is linked by property; if selected the A/R is linked by name. If the A/R is linked by property, the user can perform a search by property or account number when accepting payments or performing an account inquiry. If the A/R is linked by name, the user can also search by name. For some subsystems, this option is disabled and either selected, if the A/R is always linked by name for the subsystem, such as the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax subsystem or deselected, if the subsystem is always linked by property, such as the Special Assessment subsystem.
A/R Master by Fiscal Year
- If this option is selected, A/R records for the account are saved by fiscal year. For some subsystems, this option is disabled and either selected, if the A/R records for the subsystem are always saved by fiscal year, such as the Tax & Assessment subsystems or deselected, if the A/R records for the subsystem are not saved by fiscal year, such as the Utility Billing subsystem.
Real Property Tax Parameters
Link A/R to Names
- Select this option to link the A/R to the Primary Name in the Real Property Mailing Index.
A/R Master by Fiscal Year
- This option is always selected for the Real Property Tax module. A/R records for this module are saved by fiscal year.
A/R Master by Cycle Code
- Select this option to use A/R Cycle Codes with the Real Property Tax subsystem; such as, county, district and school (Table: VT_USR_ARCYCLE). – Deprecated in 6.0, Cycle Code is mandatory
Over, Short, and Duplicate Method
- If this option is selected, duplicate and overpayments are handled as follows: The real property tax is paid, leaving a zero balance. A credit is generated for the difference.
Penalty / Int. Breakdown (Batch)
- See Linking an A/R Class to Penalty and Interest A/R Classes on page 19. – to be validate
Minimum Collection % or $
- Enter the percentage or amount acceptable for minimum collection. Overrides the amount or percentage entered in the General Section
Collection Year
- Enter the last year for which you are collecting bills. For example, if you enter 2015, payments cannot be made on bills dated 2014 and before. Typically, this option is used by municipalities that transfer bills to the county, or to another level of government, after a set time has passed.
Personal Property Tax Parameters
Link A/R to Names
- Select this option to link the A/R to the Business or Occupant Name entered on the Personal Property Assessment Maintenance function.
A/R Master by Fiscal Year
- This option is always selected for the Personal Property Tax module. A/R records for this module are saved by fiscal year.
A/R Master by Cycle Code
- You are able to set up the Personal Property Tax subsystem by Cycles, similar to the Real Property Taxation such as, county, district and school (Table: VT_USR_ARCYCLE). – Deprecated in 6.0, Cycle Code is mandatory
Penalty / Int. Breakdown (Batch)
- See Linking an A/R Class to Penalty and Interest A/R Classes.
Allow Payments < Late Charges Due
- Select this to allow the collection of payments that are less than the late charges due. When this option is selected, the Minimum Collection % or Amount fields are disabled.
Minimum Collection % or $
- Enter the percentage or amount acceptable for minimum collection, if applicable.
Other Tax Parameters
For the following subsystems, the Link A/R to Names and A/R Master by Fiscal Year options are disabled and selected.
A/R records for these subsystems are always defined by name and saved by fiscal year.
- Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
- Boat Excise Tax
- Aircraft Excise Tax
Allow Payments < Late Charges Due
- Select this to allow the collection of payments that are less than the late charges due. When this option is selected, the Minimum Collection % or Amount fields are disabled.
Minimum Collection % or $
- Enter the percentage or amount acceptable for minimum collection, if applicable.
Utility Billing Parameters
Link A/R to Names
- Select this option to link the A/R for the Utility Billing subsystem to the Primary Name in the Utility Billing Mailing Index. Otherwise, the A/R is linked by property for this subsystem.
A/R Master by Fiscal Year
- This option is disabled and deselected. Utility Billing records are not saved by year.
Linking an A/R Class to Penalty and Interest A/R Classes
- There are three ways in which penalty and interest charges can be handled.
- Select the Penalty / Interest Breakdown (Batch) to use the Penalty.
- When this option is selected, the same A/R Class Code is used for the transaction, the penalty, and the interest. However, they are entered with interest (int) and/or penalty (pen) transaction types. For details, see A/R Class CodeProcess MAP on page 415.
- When a transaction is made, it is automatically divided between the class codes. The penalties and interest are calculated according to the A/R Method selected. You do not need to create separate A/R Class Codes for this transaction type.
- Deselect the Penalty and Interest Breakdown Batch option to send penalty and interest amounts to separate A/R Class Codes.
- When this option is deselected, the Link to Interest A/R Class and Link to Penalty A/R Class fields are enabled on the A/R Class Parameters form, under the following conditions:
- A/R Class Codes for Penalty or Interest Transaction Types exist for the sub-system and an A/R Method is selected for the A/R Class Code.
- You can link an A/R Class Code for penalty and a code for interest to the selected A/R Class Code. Then, when a payment is received the penalty and interest amounts are automatically sent to the linked A/R Class Codes. If an interest or penalty A/R Class Code is not specified, the first class code found for penalty or interest is used.
- Select the Penalty / Interest Breakdown (Batch) to use the Penalty.
No Penalty on Penalty
- Select this option to prevent charging a penalty on top of an existing penalty. This option is enabled only if the Penalty / Interest Breakdown option is selected. Refer to the Utility Billing guide for more information.
- For example, the customer owes $50.00 for water billing and $50.00 for sewer billing. The penalty is 1% per month; normally, $1.00 is charged through the Penalty Type class code. However, using the Penalty / Interest Breakdown option, $.50 is charged through a water class code and $.50 through a sewer class code.
Miscellaneous Billing Parameters
For the Miscellaneous Billing.
Link A/R to Names
- This option is disabled and always selected for the Miscellaneous Billing subsystem. Although you can link a property to a Miscellaneous Billing record, accounts are initially set up by name.
A/R Master by Fiscal Year
- Select this option to save the miscellaneous billing records by fiscal year.
Web Default Class
- Select a default AR Class for miscellaneous billing payments made over the Web. A miscellaneous billing is created for subscriptions to the eProfile that are paid over the Web. Refer to the eProfile guide for complete details. Refer to the Miscellaneous Billing guide for more information.
Tax Title Parameters
To be reviewed. Tax Title now part of the Delinquency Module
For the Real Property, Personal Property, and Land Management Tax Title.
Link A/R to Names
- The Link A/R to Names option for each tax title subsystem is defined by the Link A/R to Names setting for the corresponding subsystem.
- For example, if Link A/R to Names is selected for the Real Property subsystem, it is automatically selected for the Tax Title (Real Property) subsystem.
- If these options are selected, the A/R is linked to the following names:
- Real Property Tax Title: links the A/R to the Primary Index in the Real Property Mailing Index
- Personal Property Tax Title: links the A/R to the Business or Occupant Name entered on the Personal Property Assessment Maintenance function
- Land Management Tax Title: links the A/R to the default Link Name Type entered on the Land Management Parameters form.
A/R Master by Fiscal Year
- This option is always selected for the Tax Title subsystems. A/R records are saved by fiscal year for tax title.
Minimum Collection % or $
- Enter the percentage or amount acceptable for minimum collection for the tax title subsystems, if applicable. See General section for more information.
Other Parameters
For the Special Assessment, Land Management, Deed, Self-Reported Tax, and Bankruptcy.
Special Assessment Subsystem
The Link A/R to Names and A/R Master by Fiscal Year options are not applicable to the Special Assessment subsystem.
A/R Class Principal
- Select the default A/R class for the principal from the drop-down list.
A/R Class Interest
- Select the default A/R class for the interest from the drop-down list.
Land Management Subsystem
Link A/R to Names
- By default, Accounts Receivable records are created by property for the Land Management subsystem. Select this option to create records by name. Records are defined, according to the type of name, selected on the Default Link Name parameter defined on the Land Management Parameters form, such as, the applicant for a permit record. Refer to the Permit & Inspections guide for details.
A/R Master by Fiscal Year
- Select this option to save Land Management A/R records by fiscal year. Refer to the Permits guide for more information.
Switch to Voluntary Payment when Payment without A/R
- In Govern for Windows, users of the Payment Data Entry function may need to make a payment to a Name or Property account that has no open A/R account. In such instances, the Transaction Type must be entered as a Voluntary Payment. If a payment is attempted and the Transaction Type is set to Payment, an error message is generated. When the Switch to Voluntary Payment when Payment without A/R option is selected, any transactions without a valid A/R Account will be automatically changed to a Voluntary Payment transaction type.
Land Management 2 Subsystem
- When you create A/R Class Codes, you can select Land Management 2 from the Sub-System drop-down list. This is provided as second classification. You can configure separate security for this sub-system. For all other settings, the Land Management options are applicable to both
Deed Information Subsystem
Link A/R to Names
- By default, Accounts Receivable records are created by property for the Deed Information subsystem. Select this option to create records by name.
A/R Master by Fiscal Year
- Select this option to save Deed Information AR records by fiscal year. Refer to the Property Control and Mass Appraisal Sales and Comparable Sales guides for more information.
Self-Reported Tax Subsystem
Link A/R to Names
- All Self-Reported Tax records are created by name. This option is disabled for this subsystem.
A/R Master by Fiscal Year
- Select this option to save the AR records for the Self-Reported Tax subsystem, by fiscal year. Refer to the Self -Reported Tax guide for more information.
A/R Method
Due Nb. of Days
Use when the Apply Due Nb of Days is checked. for compound interest
Apply Due Nb of Days (Compound Interest)
A setup has been added for the standard interest method when using compound interest. In Govern Admin, a new check box called Apply nb. of days due for compound interest has been added that will apply for all standard interest methods.
You can now specify the date to start charging compound interest. New in 10.8 NOTE: The A/R Method forms are used for setting the calculation method for applying penalty and interest charges for the selected A/R Class. Penalty and Interest calculations are based on the effective date and due date of the bill. They can be applied as a one-time charge, or on a daily or weekly basis. Multiple A/R Methods are available. You can define percentages, length of discount period for calculating the interest and penalty.
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