Budget with or without tax: the basis spending is compared on
Each project chooses whether its budget includes tax (VAT in Mexico). That choice decides how purchase orders are added to spent and committed: if the budget is before tax, purchases count without their tax; if it includes tax, with their total. That way spending and budget are compared on the same basis and nobody sees an "over budget" that is really just the tax.
- In Mexico the budget starts before VAT, like the one from OPUS or from Unit prices; outside Mexico, with tax included.
- You choose it when you create the project and change it later on the project page or in Budgets.
- Before tax: each purchase order adds its total minus its tax. Tax included: it adds its total.
- Payroll, subcontractor billings, petty cash and diesel are added as recorded.
- It applies across the platform: Budgets, Progress, the project page, Reports, the client report, the partner report and the copilot.
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Choose the basis when you create the project
In the new project form, next to the VAT regime, you’ll find “Budget VAT” (or “Budget tax”). Keep “Before VAT” if you enter prices before taxes (the usual with OPUS or Unit prices), or choose “VAT included” if your amounts already include it.
- 2
Check it in Budgets
Below the budget figures you see the project’s basis. Spent and committed say next to the figure which basis they are on, and their tooltip explains it.
- 3
Change it if you entered it differently
If your budget amounts do include tax, change the basis on the project page or in Budgets. The figures are recalculated right away, without touching any purchase order.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my spent amount go down after the update?
Because your budget is before tax and now purchases are also added before tax. They used to be added with their total, so spending showed about 16% above budget without anything actually going over.
Does changing the basis modify my purchase orders?
No. Each order keeps its subtotal, its tax and its total. Only which of the two amounts counts against the budget changes.
Who can change it?
Whoever sets up projects: the owner, an admin or a role allowed to create and archive projects. Everyone else sees it but cannot change it.
What about an old order without its tax broken down?
It counts in full. A tax that isn’t recorded is never subtracted, so spending never comes out short.
Does the budget spreadsheet respect this choice?
Yes. The file you download in Unit prices → Export ▾ is built on the project’s basis: if the budget is before tax, it adds the tax at the end; if it already includes tax, it does not add it again — it breaks it down (subtotal before tax plus the tax included) and the amount in words shows the same total you see in Budgets.