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April 19, 2021
Question

Using subcontractors on invoices

  • April 19, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 16 views

I am new to Quickbooks (and accounting) and am trying to understand how to use subcontractors in this software. I have read other forum questions but they don't seem to be specific to what I am trying to do. I use subcontractors as part of the installation for a product I sell, and they give me a quote for each job. Questions:

1. I don't upcharge the contractor fee, I just pass it on to the client. So when creating the product in the "Products and Services" for the subcontractor fee, is this categorized as a sale or an expense on the income account since I am selling their services but I don't profit anything from it?

2. Since the contractor is a company and not an individual, do I charge tax on their invoiced service to the customer since I assume they charge their own taxes when they give me the quote for the job?

3. Since the contractor is a company and not an individual, do I still need to create a 1099 for them like if I was using an independent contractor, or do I set them up as a vendor and don't worry about the 1099?

 

Thank you for your help!

1 reply

Rustler
Level 15
April 20, 2021

Contractors are a vendor, and what you pay them is an expense. If the contractor is not a corporation, then you issue a 1099 each year which covers cash and check payments made. You send them a form w-9, free download google it, and keep that signed form on file.

 

What you sell to the customer is your income. On the P&L income is reduced by expense, so if you do not mark up the contractor expense it washes out with no effect on the bottom line. Use a Service item to sell this service.

 

Whether or not the contractor service you sell is taxable is a state decision, check the state website or call them and ask to speak to an auditor (best source of information IMO) and ask

SiuaAuthor
April 20, 2021

So on my products and services, I added an item for the contractors, but for the income account, I choose the category "Contractors - Expenses" for the service item. Is this not correct? Should the income account be 'Sales - income" instead?