Processing Cash Payments

A. Deposit Locations

All deposits must be delivered in person to one of the below listed authorized locations, accompanied by a completed and signed Deposit Transmittal Form or in Marketplace setup using Account ID 20218. Campus mail is NOT an authorized method of delivery, due to potential loss or misappropriation of funds.

B. Cash Handling Locations

Each department must provide adequate working space for each cash handler in order to maintain control of the cash handling process and allow space to accept payments. All cash handling areas should provide for security and separation between cash handlers and customers. Adequate and secure areas should also be designated for balancing operations.

C. Sales Tax

UTSA is exempt from paying State of Texas sales tax on purchased items; however, it is not exempt from acting as a tax-collecting entity. Departments must collect sales tax when selling taxable items, unless proof of tax exemption is obtained. The department must collect and document the sales tax on the Deposit Transmittal Form using Account ID 20218.

NOTE: The sales tax must be indicated separately from the sales amount on the Deposit Transmittal Form.

1. Taxable and Nontaxable Sales

A tax must be collected on all cash sales involving tangible personal property, defined as personal property, that can be seen, weighed, measured, felt or touched or that is perceptible to the senses in any other manner, including computer programs.

NOTE: Some services, such as data processing and information services are also taxable. To see a complete list of taxable services, please review the TexComp.ListTaxSvcs.

For more information on taxable and nontaxable sales, departments may contact the  Office of Financial Services and University Bursar.

2. Proof of Tax Exemption

Some customers qualify for exemption because of how the purchased item(s) will be used or because of the nature of the purchaser's organization.

The purchaser must prove their exemption status. An exemption certificate must show the purchaser's name and address; a description of the item; the reason the purchase is exempt; the signature of the purchaser and date; and the name and address of the seller.

Departments must obtain an exemption certificate from the purchaser at the time the transaction is processed. This certificate should be kept in the department's records as evidence of a tax-exempt sale.

NOTE: If the purchaser is a governmental entity or a not-for-profit organization, an official purchase order including the above information can serve as a tax-exempt certificate.

3. Tax Rate

The sales tax rate depends on the physical location – by county – of the sale. UTSA must remit the sales tax to the Texas State Comptroller.

NOTE: The current tax rate for Bexar County/San Antonio is 8.25%.

See the TexComp.ListSalesTax for a list of local city and county sales tax rates.

NOTE: If an item is delivered outside Bexar County/San Antonio and surrounding areas using a UTSA owned and/or operated vehicle, a different tax rate may apply.

4. Calculating Sales Tax

Tax must be calculated on the amount of taxable sales. The sales tax amount is the total amount of taxable sales multiplied by the tax rate.

EXAMPLE: Taxable sales in Bexar County/San Antonio for $150.00 times the tax rate of .0825 = $12.38 sales tax.

D. Security

Cash and assets cannot be left unsecured or unattended. All assets must be physically protected in safes, locked cash drawers, locked metal boxes or locked drawers at all times, including when retained in a department overnight.

It is the specific responsibility of supervisory level personnel to review cash handling documents that are prepared by personnel reporting to them. Anything that appears questionable should be investigated carefully.

1. Transport of Cash Deposits

Any deposit or combination of deposits containing more than $5,000 in cash (defined as currency and coins for this section) must be secured in tamper evident bags and must have a UTSA Police escort when the cash is transported to Fiscal Services.

For cash deposits of less than $5,000, a police escort may still be requested or the departmental supervisor or other employee may accompany the courier, at the discretion of the department.

NOTE: Contact Fiscal Services for information on recommended tamper evident bags.

To avoid potential theft, transfers of cash deposits within UTSA should not conform to any set schedule and information regarding the transfer should be limited only to cash handling employees who have attended UTSA Cash Handling training. UTSA Police should be contacted in the event of suspicious activity or if special risks are involved.

Any transfer of cash deposits made off-campus may only be made by contracted armored transport or UTSA Police. Armored transport personnel are required to provide adequate identification before each transport and will provide signed receipts for all items accepted.

2. Transport of Credit Card Deposits

PCI Security Standards Council Data Security Standards require that media (documentation containing credit card numbers) only be transported by secured courier or other method that can be accurately tracked.

• Credit card data presented to Fiscal Services must be logged before the media leaves the department. The receipt provided by Fiscal Services represents confirmation of acceptance and submission of the credit card payment (this form will be shredded by Fiscal Services upon completion of the transaction).
• The transport between departments of media containing credit card information is not recommended, but if there is a legitimate business reason for the transport, each location sending and receiving the media must keep a tracking log so that the data can be tracked at any point in the transport process. The transporting department must track their submission of the media as well as maintain confirmation of receipt by the receiving department.

NOTE: This requirement is only applicable for departments transporting media containing more than the last four digits of the credit card number.

3. Counterfeit Currency

As required by law, all counterfeit currency must be confiscated and segregated immediately by the cash handler.

If counterfeit currency is discovered after it is accepted for payment, it must be segregated by the cash handler. A Counterfeit Note Report must be filed with the Secret Service within one business day. A complete description of the counterfeit bill presenter must be made by the cash handler immediately following the payment in accordance with Secret Service procedures.

NOTE: Document counterfeit currency as a shortage (debit) using Account ID 44452 on the Deposit Transmittal Form.

4. Keys and Combinations

Combinations or keys for cash receptacles must be maintained only by designated department/division custodians and supervisors. The safe registration information and combination must be reported to and maintained by each department/division supervisor. Combinations shall be reported under seal to the department/division supervisor and are subject to audit.

5. Theft or Burglary

• Pending deposit: Document on a Deposit Transmittal Form as a shortage (debit) using Account ID 44452 in order to balance the deposit.
• Departmental petty cash funds: Document on a Petty Cash Reimbursement Form as a shortage (debit) using Account ID 44452 and submit to Fiscal Services to replenish the departmental fund.

These losses must also be reported to the ICRS.utsa, Office of Financial Services and University Bursar and PD.utsa before the close of business, followed by a written report within one business day.

6. Physical and Electronic Credit Card Data

Discarded daily detail of credit card information must be shredded. Customer credit card numbers and expiration dates should only be kept until the transaction is successfully completed then should be shredded.

The customer's signature on the credit card receipt may be maintained as per UTSA Records Retention Schedule. Credit card receipts are only allowed to display the last four digits of the number. Credit card numbers submitted to Fiscal Services for their processing will be shredded upon successful completion of the transactions.

Credit card information stored on local hard drives must be properly secured and properly disposed of in accordance with the official UTSA Records Retention Schedule. No more than the last four digits of a credit card number should be maintained. If any confidential credit card information is temporarily stored on a local hard drive, the computer must be locked down. Hard drives must be wiped clean before disposal.

Under no circumstances should credit card numbers be transmitted via any electronic format after our receipt from a cardholder.

Departments are responsible for security of their dedicated credit card terminals and must ensure they are operated and stored in a secure environment. Criminals are actively targeting vulnerable merchant terminals to steal credit card data for fraud purposes. Departments must, at a minimum, track and routinely inspect their dedicated credit card terminals, for tampering or substitution, by regularly checking serial numbers or other identifying characteristics, unexpected attachments or cables plugged into a device or external markings, and ensuring that unauthorized persons cannot access these machines — both during business hours and when the university is closed. If your dedicated credit card terminal is missing/stolen or if it is suspected of being tampered with, contact the Assistant Vice President for Budget and Financial Planning immediately.

E. Accepting Currency

1. Verify the payment amount, including the sales tax, if applicable.
   NOTE: If you suspect the cash is counterfeit, see Counterfeit Currency for more information.
2. Record the receipt of the cash payment using a cash register, pre-numbered receipt or log book.

NOTE: Currency cannot be accepted by mail.

F. Accepting Checks

• Identify the presenter. See Identification for more information.