[IMP] accounting: update VIES VAT number validation

task-3329992

closes odoo/documentation#4616

Signed-off-by: Dallas Dean (dade) <dade@odoo.com>

content/applications/finance/accounting/taxes.rst

@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ directly to a product line.
 
    taxes/cash_basis
    taxes/retention
-   taxes/vat_validation
+   taxes/vat_verification
    taxes/fiscal_positions
    taxes/avatax
    taxes/taxcloud

content/applications/finance/accounting/taxes/fiscal_positions.rst

@@ -72,8 +72,11 @@ From there, several conditions can be activated:
    :alt: Example of a fiscal position automatic application settings
 
 .. note::
-   Taxes on **eCommerce orders** are automatically updated once the customer has logged in or filled
-   out their billing details.
+   - If the :doc:`Verify VAT Numbers <vat_verification>` feature is enabled, any fiscal positions
+     with :guilabel:`VAT required` enabled will require Intra-Community valid VAT numbers to apply
+     automatically.
+   - Taxes on **eCommerce orders** are automatically updated once the customer has logged in or
+     filled out their billing details.
 
 .. important::
    The fiscal positions' **sequence** defines which fiscal position is applied if all conditions

content/applications/finance/accounting/taxes/vat_validation.rst

@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-===========================
-VIES VAT numbers validation
-===========================
-
-**VAT Information Exchange System** - abbreviated **VIES** - is a tool provided by the European
-Commission that allows you to check the validity of VAT numbers of companies registered in the
-European Union.
-
-Odoo provides a feature to **Verify VAT Numbers** when you save a contact. This helps you make sure
-that your contacts provided you with a valid VAT number without leaving Odoo interface.
-
-Configuration
-=============
-
-To enable this feature, go to :menuselection:`Accounting --> Configuration --> Settings --> Taxes`,
-enable the **Verify VAT Numbers** feature, and click on *Save*.
-
-.. image:: vat_validation/vat-validation-configuration.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: Enable "Verify VAT Numbers" in Odoo Accounting
-
-VAT Number validation
-=====================
-
-Whenever you create or modify a contact, make sure to fill out the **Country** and **VAT** fields.
-
-.. image:: vat_validation/vat-validation-contact-form.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: Fill out the contact form with the country and VAT number before clicking on *Save*
-
-When you click on *Save*, Odoo runs a VIES VAT number check, and displays an error message if the
-VAT number is invalid.
-
-.. image:: vat_validation/vat-validation-error.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: Odoo displays an error message instead of saving when the VAT number is invalid
-
-.. important::
-   This tool checks the VAT number's validity but does not check the other fields' validity.
-
-.. seealso::
-
-   - `European Commission: VIES search engine <https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/vatRequest.html>`__

content/applications/finance/accounting/taxes/vat_verification.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+===============================
+VAT numbers verification (VIES)
+===============================
+
+`VAT Information Exchange System <https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/#/vat-validation>`_, or
+**VIES**, is a tool provided by the European Commission that allows you to check the validity of VAT
+numbers for companies registered in the European Union.
+
+Odoo's VAT Validation feature uses the VIES to verify your contacts' VAT numbers directly from
+Odoo's interface.
+
+.. note::
+   Regardless of whether or not the Verify VAT Numbers feature is enabled, Odoo checks the format of
+   a contact's VAT against the `expected format of VAT numbers
+   <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAT_identification_number>`_ from that country.
+
+VIES VAT number verification
+============================
+
+To activate this feature, go to :menuselection:`Accounting --> Configuration --> Settings`. In the
+:guilabel:`Taxes` section, enable the :guilabel:`Verify VAT Numbers` feature, and click on
+:guilabel:`Save`.
+
+Once the :guilabel:`Verify VAT Numbers` feature is enabled, if the contact's :guilabel:`Tax ID`
+field is populated *and* its country is different from your company's country, Odoo displays an
+:guilabel:`Intra-Community Valid` checkbox. Odoo tests the VAT number through the VIES and
+automatically checks or unchecks the :guilabel:`Intra-Community Valid` checkbox depending on the
+validity of the VAT number.
+
+.. image:: vat_verification/intra-community-valid.png
+   :alt: Intra-community valid checkbox on the contact record
+
+.. important::
+   It is possible to manually override the :guilabel:`Intra-Community Valid` field on a contact in
+   case the automatic VIES check is incorrect (for example, if the company was recently created and
+   its VAT is not yet in the VIES). This change is logged in the chatter for transparency.
+
+.. note::
+   Odoo can :ref:`automatically apply fiscal positions <fiscal_positions/automatic>`. If the Verify VAT
+   Numbers feature is enabled, any fiscal positions with VAT required enabled will require
+   Intra-Community valid VAT numbers to apply automatically.

redirects/15.0.txt

@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ applications/finance/accounting/taxation/taxes/fiscal_positions.rst applications
 applications/finance/accounting/taxation/taxes/retention.rst applications/finance/accounting/taxes/retention.rst                                   # taxation/taxes/* -> taxes/*
 applications/finance/accounting/taxation/taxes/taxcloud.rst applications/finance/accounting/taxes/taxcloud.rst                                     # taxation/taxes/* -> taxes/*
 applications/finance/accounting/taxation/taxes/taxes.rst applications/finance/accounting/taxes.rst                                                 # taxation/taxes/* -> taxes/*
-applications/finance/accounting/taxation/taxes/vat_validation.rst applications/finance/accounting/taxes/vat_validation.rst                         # taxation/taxes/* -> taxes/*
+applications/finance/accounting/taxation/taxes/vat_validation.rst applications/finance/accounting/taxes/vat_verification.rst                       # taxation/taxes/vat_validation -> taxes/vat_verification
+applications/finance/accounting/taxes/vat_validation.rst applications/finance/accounting/taxes/vat_verification.rst                                # vat_validation -> vat_verification
 
 # applications/general