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July 19, 2025
Question

deferred Maintenance

  • July 19, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 72 views

Hello, my question is how do I record a deferred maintenance amount? My employer wants to show 150K that has not been paid that will be reduced by future expenses, and doesn't want it to show on the P&L and only on the Balance Sheet.

1 reply

QuickBooks Team
July 19, 2025

To record deferred maintenance in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT), you first need to create a liability account to track the deferred amount and record transactions related to it, GGRach.

 

Here's how:

 

  1. Go to the Lists menu, then select Chart of Accounts.
  2. Click the Account dropdown and select New.



  3. Choose an Account Type. Select Other Current Liability if it can be settled within a year, or Long-Term Liability for obligations beyond one year, then click Continue.



  4. Name the Account. Example: "Deferred Maintenance Reserve."
  5. Optionally, add a description, then click Save & Close.

 

After creating the liability account, let's record the deferred maintenance amount using a Journal Entry (JE):😞

 

  1. Go to Company, then choose Make General Journal Entries.
  2. Enter the Amount. In the first line, under the Account, select the liability account you just created.
    • Debit: Enter $150,000.
  3. In the second line, under the Account, choose a suitable offset account (like an Equity account or another liability account, based on your company's accounting practices).
    • Credit: Enter the same amount, $150,000.
  4. Review the entry for accuracy and click Save & Close.

 

Next, as maintenance expenses are incurred, reduce the liability account by creating a new Journal Entry for Future Expenses:

 

  1. In the Make General Journal EntriesReduce the Liability.
  2. In the first line, under the Account, select the liability account you just created.
    • Debit: Enter the amount of the expense incurred.
  3. In the second line, under the Account, choose an appropriate Expense account.
    • Credit: Enter the same amount as the debit.
  4. Review and ensure everything is entered correctly, then click Save & Close.

 

To ensure the deferred maintenance account is properly categorized, pull up the Profit and Loss report to confirm that the liability account you created does not appear there. Then, check the Balance Sheet report to verify that the deferred maintenance account is listed under liabilities.

 

For accurate reporting and compliance with accounting principles, it's best to consult your accountant or financial advisor. They can provide guidance tailored to your company's financial practices and ensure proper classification of deferred maintenance.

 

If there's anything else that we can help you with, please let us know in the comments below. We'll be here to lend a hand.