1) How do I enter the GST manually for one line item in my invoice? 2)How do I show the primary line item to not let Quickbooks add the GST automatically

Hi there,

Welcome to the Community, I'd be happy to help with your questions about invoicing.

QuickBooks Online makes it easy to enter GST to the invoice. In order to add GST to the invoice, you'll first need to set it up in the Sales Tax Center listed under Taxes from the left menu. The following article includes steps on how to add and edit tax rates: How to set up a new sales tax code.

Once set up, you'll have the option to select the tax if it applies to that particular transaction. The screenshot below will show you where it's located on the invoice.

By default, you'll have to manually assign a tax code to a transaction when creating an invoice. If your invoice transactions are coming up with a tax code automatically assigned, don't hesitate to reach back so I can help take a look at the transactions. I'll be on standby. 

I want to have gst on every line of the invoice as the default

Hi cmhowarth,

Sales tax is an crucial part of any business and helping you save time by having it auto populate is a great idea! I'd be happy to help you get this done in your QuickBooks Online account.

With QuickBooks Online customizing your experience is the name of the game and we're always coming up with new ways to help you save time and effort. There are two ways to have GST show up whenever you make an invoice. The first is to assign your customer with a preferred sales tax code and the other is to assign an item with a sales tax code.

In order to assign a preferred sales tax code to a customer you can follow these steps: Sales>Customer>Select the Customer>Edit. Once that is done you'll see the edit page for the customer info. From there select the Tax info option and check the box beside Assign default tax code. The drop down list just below Assign default tax code will give you a list of all the sales tax codes in your QuickBooks Online Account. Once you select the right tax code it'll automatically assign that tax code to all invoices going forward.

You can do the same thing with items as well by going to: Sales>Product and Services>Select the item>Scroll down to Tax drop down menu>Select the tax code. If you have a tax code assigned to both an item or service and a customer the system will use the customer as the default tax code.

Once complete, when you select that customer or item depending which option you used it'll automatically populate the sales tax code on the invoice.

If you have any questions please feel free to let us know and we'll be happy to help!

Hello @mcroddislandmark ,

If you don't want the tax calculating on the primary line, you would have to use the Out of Scope tax item.  However, in QBO there is no way to add a second line on an invoice that will post directly to the GST/HST Payable account.  You can accomplish this in a JE, but not on an invoice.  You can, however, edit the amount of GST on the invoice, which might not be a great idea because the very description of the GST Tax code says GST @ 5% and if the amount is not exactly 5%, your customer might have issues.

Can you explain a little more what your end goal is in doing as you suggest?  That would make it easier to provide you with a helpful answer.