File your sales tax return and record sales tax payments in QuickBooks Online

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Learn how to file your sales tax return and record your sales tax payment in QuickBooks Online.

QuickBooks Online tracks your payment due dates in one place so you can avoid late returns and extra fees. Once it’s time to file, you can review what you owe first to make sure all the numbers look good. Then, you can use your up-to-date QuickBooks info to fill out your sales tax form.

After filing, you can record your new sales tax payment in QuickBooks so your sales tax payable stays up to date.

If you still use manual sales tax, here’s how to manage sales tax payments in QuickBooks Online.

Step 1: Review what you owe

If you haven’t already, make sure everything is correct before you file.

1. Go to Taxes.
2. In the Returns tab, check which return is due this month, then select Prepare return.
3. Select the Filing period, then update the End date or the Filing date.
4. Review your sales tax. Make sure everything is correct. If you need to add an adjustment, select Adjust for the item in the list that you want to add as an adjustment. Fill up the adjustment details in the form, and select Save.
5. Take note of your gross sales, taxable sales, sales tax due, and adjustment amount (if you added one). You’ll need these numbers later when you fill out your sales tax return form.
6. After you have done with updating the details in the returns, select Mark as filed.
7. Select Continue.

Note: If you need a detailed look at what you owe, run your tax liability report for the same sales tax period. This is helpful if you want to review your taxable and nontaxable invoices, receipts, and other transactions.

Step 2: File your return with the right tax agency

After you review your sales tax, you can e-file your return on your tax agency’s website, or file by mail depending on your region.

Most states encourage businesses to e-file. But if you can’t file online, you can check your tax agency’s website for more info on how to mail your return.

1. Go to your tax agency’s website to file your return online. If you haven’t yet, you might have to sign up for your state’s e-filing service.
2. Fill out your sales tax return form. Refer to the gross sales, taxable sales, and sales tax due amounts you took note of in Step 1.
3. Finish filing your sales tax return.

Step 3: Record your sales tax payment in QuickBooks

Once you're done filing, it's time to keep your sales tax info in QuickBooks up to date. Here's how to manually record your sales tax payment to zero out your sales tax payable.

1. Go to Taxes.
2. In the Returns tab, under Filed returns, find the return you just filed, then select Record payment.
3. Under Payment type, select Payment.
4. Add these payment details:
   • Bank account
   • Payment date
   • Payment amount
   • Memo (optional)
5. Select Save.

You can see your payment details under the Payments tab.

Step 4: Check your filing status

If you filed online, go to your tax agency's website to check your return’s filing status. If you filed by mail, you can also call your tax agency directly to get an update on your return.