The two tax export settings
Datamolino offers two ways to send tax to Xero when you export a document:
Let Xero calculate tax - Datamolino sends NET (or TOTAL) plus the tax code, and Xero works out the tax amount.
Send exact tax amount - Datamolino sends NET and TAX together, so Xero records exactly the figures shown on the invoice. If there is a discrepancy between the tax amount and the one calculated using the tax code, it will create a tax adjustment in Xero.
The setting is found in the folder's Tax export settings (Folder menu > Accounting & Automation > Integration). It can also be changed per document in the supplier section of the document detail.
Tip: Datamolino exports only the amounts shown in bold on the document. These are the ones to check when reviewing - the figures in bold are what gets sent to Xero.
Let Xero calculate tax (default)
This is Datamolino's default tax setting. With it, Datamolino sends NET (or TOTAL) and the selected tax code, and Xero calculates the rest.
Before exporting, check the amounts in bold and confirm the tax code in the dropdown matches the rate on the invoice.
With Let Xero calculate tax, the bold amount (here, TOTAL) is what Datamolino sends; Xero calculates NET and TAX from the tax code.
👉 What happens when I export Invoice Total?
Datamolino sends the TOTAL, and Xero calculates NET and TAX from the tax code you picked. In Xero, the draft is shown as tax inclusive. Once the draft is approved and reaches Awaiting Payment, Xero shows the amounts as tax exclusive.
👉 What happens when I export Line items?
Most invoices list line items as NET values, and some do not show a tax rate per line. In these cases Datamolino sends the NET value of each line to Xero as tax exclusive, and Xero calculates the rest after the export.
👉 What if my totals do not match exactly?
With Let Xero calculate tax, Datamolino tolerates small tax differences caused by rounding. If the totals are off only slightly (up to 0.10), the export still goes through. Larger mismatches block the export until you correct the amounts or add an adjustment line.
Send exact tax amount
Use this setting when the supplier's invoice rounds amounts differently from how Xero would calculate them, and you want Xero to record the exact NET and TAX shown on the document.
A common example: the supplier's invoice has a 1p tax difference compared with how Xero would calculate it. With Send exact tax amount, Datamolino sends both NET and TAX, and Xero records those exact figures - applying a small tax adjustment on its side to make the totals reconcile.
With Send exact tax amount, always check that NET and TAX are correct, and that the tax code in the dropdown matches the rate on the invoice.
With Send exact tax amount, NET and TAX are in bold and editable - Datamolino sends both to Xero exactly as shown.
👉 What happens if NET, TAX, and TOTAL do not add up?
With Send exact tax amount, the totals must match exactly. If they do not, the export is blocked until you correct the amounts manually or use the Add Adjustment Line option to clear the difference. Learn more about the Adjustment Line feature.
When totals do not match under Send exact tax amount, use Add Adjustment Line to balance them.
Quick comparison: which setting to use
The right setting depends on whose figures you want Xero to record.
Let Xero calculate tax - sends NET (or TOTAL) + tax code. Xero works out the tax. Best when supplier and Xero agree on the rounding. Small tax rounding differences are tolerated automatically.
Send exact tax amount - sends NET + TAX (Datamolino's figures override Xero's calculation). Best when the supplier rounds differently from Xero and you want the invoice in Xero to match the document exactly. Totals must add up exactly or the export is blocked.
Recalculating tax manually
👉 What does the Calculate Tax button do?
The Calculate Tax button recomputes the tax on the document based on the current amount fields and selected tax code.
👉 When can I use Calculate Tax?
Tax is normally recalculated only when the document is set to Let Xero calculate tax. The Calculate Tax button overrides that restriction - you can use it even when the document is set to Send exact tax amount, to force a one-off recalculation when you need to refresh the figures.