Automation Rules
Automation rules let you define what happens when TaxLayer processes a document that matches certain criteria. Instead of manually routing each document, you configure rules once and TaxLayer applies them automatically every time a matching document is processed.
Rules are attached to individual connections. Each rule belongs to exactly one connection — for example, a SoftOne connection, and controls how documents are posted to that system.
How rules work
A rule has two parts:
When — the condition that triggers the rule. Currently, the condition is based on the TaxLayer document type (e.g. "Purchase Invoice – Goods", "Sales Invoice – Services").
Then — the action to take when the condition is met. For SoftOne connections, this means posting the document to a specific destination in SoftOne, staging it via SoftOne Data Flow, or routing it to Manual Review.
When TaxLayer finishes processing a document, it checks whether any rules on any active connection match the document's type. If a match is found and the rule is enabled, the action is carried out automatically.
If no rule matches, no action is taken automatically. The document remains in TaxLayer for manual handling.
Where to find rules
Rules are managed inside the Connection Detail drawer, not on a separate page.
- Go to Connections (/connections).
- Click the connection row you want to configure.
- The Connection Detail drawer opens on the right.
- Scroll down to the Automation Rules section.
- The rules table
The Automation Rules section shows all rules for that connection in a table:
Column | Description |
|---|---|
Rule Name | The name you gave the rule |
Trigger | A summary of the condition — the document type this rule matches |
Action | What TaxLayer does when the condition is met |
Status | Enabled (green) or Disabled (grey) |
⋯ | Menu to edit, enable/disable, or delete the rule |
If no rules exist, the section shows an empty state with a Create Automation Rule button.
Create a rule
- Open the Connection Detail drawer.
- Click + Add Rule in the Automation Rules section header.
- The Create Rule modal opens.
Fill in the fields:
Field | Notes |
|---|---|
Rule name | A clear, descriptive name. Example: "Post Supplier Invoices to Purchases Ledger" |
When — Document type | Select the document type this rule should match. See supported document types below |
Then — Posting mode | Select what to do when a match is found. See posting modes below |
Destination in SoftOne | If you selected Direct Post, choose the SoftOne destination from the dropdown. Options are fetched live from your SoftOne connection |
- Click Save Rule.
Edit a rule
- Click the ⋯ menu on the rule row.
- Click Edit.
- Update the fields and click Save Rule.
Disable or enable a rule
Disabling a rule pauses it without deleting it. Disabled rules are not applied when documents are processed.
- Click the ⋯ menu on the rule row.
- Click Disable to pause the rule, or Enable to reactivate it.
Use this when you need to temporarily stop a rule — for example, during a period of reconciliation or when SoftOne is undergoing maintenance.
Delete a rule
- Click the ⋯ menu on the rule row.
- Click Delete.
- Confirm. The deletion is permanent.
Troubleshooting
A rule is enabled but documents are not being posted. Check that the document's TaxLayer doc type matches the rule condition exactly. Open the document's detail page and look at the classification tags in the header. If the doc type shows "Unknown Financial Document", the document was not classified precisely enough to match a rule.
The Destination dropdown shows an error. The SoftOne connection may be inactive or unreachable. Open the Connection Detail drawer and click Test to check the connection health. If the test fails, see the SoftOne troubleshooting guide.
I accidentally deleted a rule. Deletion is permanent. Re-create the rule using the + Add Rule button.
I want to stop posting documents temporarily. Disable the relevant rules using the ⋯ menu → Disable option rather than deleting them. This pauses the rules and preserves their configuration.
Updated on: 14/04/2026
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