QuickBooks HelpQuickBooksHelpIntuit

Use Workpapers to map and export your clients’ tax info

by Intuit•9• Updated 3 days ago

Learn how to useWorkpapers to review, adjust, map, and export your client’s QuickBooks Online accounts to get ready for tax season.

Workpapers is a tool in QuickBooks Online Accountant lets you review a client’s accounts from a single dashboard. It's very similar to a trial balance. You can use it for any clients who use QuickBooks Online. After you review your client's accounts, Workpapers automatically export accounts to the proper lines on tax forms.

Step 1: Open Workpapers

Each client has their own dedicated Workpapers page.

If you're using Intuit Accountant Suite:

  • Go to Firm Books A bunch of numbers and letters on a tile wall., select Income Tax, then select Workpapers.

If you're using QuickBooks Online Accountant:

  • Select Accountant tools and select Workpapers.

Step 2: Review your client’s accounts

Uk_Workpapers_ L4EUJdqX3.png
Start your work in the Review & adjust tab. Your client’s annual Balance sheet and Profit and loss reports are in separate sections so you can make quick comparisons. You’ll also see last year’s totals, account differences, and any adjusting entries you’ve made.

To dive into a specific account:

  1. Expand the list of accounts.
  2. Select the account total from the column for the current year.
  3. Review the transactions in the account.

Step 3: Make adjusting journal entries

Workpapers makes it easy to record and adjust journal entries if needed. This lets you adjust transaction totals without changing the original record. To make an adjusting journal entry while you're on the Review & adjust tab:

  1. Expand the list of accounts.
  2. Find the account you want to adjust.
  3. Select the add adjustment icon from the Adjusting Entries column. It will open the Journal Entry page.
  4. On the first row, select an account from the Account ▼ dropdown if the account does not appear automatically.
  5. Enter the amount in either the Debits or Credits column.
  6. On the next row, select the other account you're moving money between.
  7. Enter the same amount in the opposite column to balance the debits and credits.
    Note: The system may enter the same amount in the opposite column on the other row.
  8. Select Save and close.

 You can attach notes and documents to keep track of work on individual accounts as needed:

  1. Select the link icon , then select Manage docs and links, or select the note icon next to the Accounts column.
    • If you select Manage docs and links, then select Upload. Upload the document you want.
    • If you select the note icon , enter the appropriate note, then select Save.

Change the accounting method view

You can switch between accounting method views to make your review easier. This won’t affect your client’s settings or view in QuickBooks Online.

  1. Select the edit icon next to the date.
  2. Select Cash basis or Accrual basis.
  3. Select Save.

Review the Change List

The change list in the Review & adjust tab acts as an audit log. Every time someone makes a change in Workpapers, it appears on this list.
L4EUJdqX3_UK_Changelist1.png

To approve these changes so QuickBooks applies them, select Accept all transactions.

Step 4: Map accounts to tax forms

Review each tax line. If you need to reassign an account to a different tax line:

  1. Go to the Tax mapping tab.
  2. Find the account on the tax form.
  3. Select the edit icon to make changes.
    Note: If the edit icon does not appear, then select the account on the tax form.
  4. Select the correct tax line from the To ▼ dropdown.
  5. Select Save.

Step 5: Export the mapped tax forms

When you're ready to export, download a CSV.

  1. Select the export icon from the Tax mapping list.
  2. Select the folder where you want to save your file, then select Save.