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carynv
Level 1

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

Hello - I would like to create my own expense category in SELF EMPLOYED app.  How do I do this?  I have read the function is possible in other subscriptions but cannot find for SELF EMPLOYED.  Thank you

Solved
Best answer February 14, 2021

Accepted Solutions
AlcaeusF
Moderator

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

Hi @carynv,

 

Welcome to the Community. I can provide some clarification about adding expenses in QuickBooks Self-Employed (QBSE).

 

The categories in the system are patterned after the categories provided by the HMRC  As of now, the option to add new categories in the program is unavailable.

 

Please note that the Self-Employed version doesn't have an Accounting menu or Chart of Accounts, like QBO. This is the reason why you can't create another category. 

 

While we assess this, I want you to be the first to hear about the latest QuickBooks innovations, so I’m including an article to view the details: Firm of the Future.

 

You can also check the following article for more information about custom categories: Custom categories in QuickBooks Self-Employed.

 

Drop me a comment below if you have any other questions concerning the categories. I'll be more than happy to help. Wishing you a good one.

View solution in original post

14 REPLIES 14
AlcaeusF
Moderator

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

Hi @carynv,

 

Welcome to the Community. I can provide some clarification about adding expenses in QuickBooks Self-Employed (QBSE).

 

The categories in the system are patterned after the categories provided by the HMRC  As of now, the option to add new categories in the program is unavailable.

 

Please note that the Self-Employed version doesn't have an Accounting menu or Chart of Accounts, like QBO. This is the reason why you can't create another category. 

 

While we assess this, I want you to be the first to hear about the latest QuickBooks innovations, so I’m including an article to view the details: Firm of the Future.

 

You can also check the following article for more information about custom categories: Custom categories in QuickBooks Self-Employed.

 

Drop me a comment below if you have any other questions concerning the categories. I'll be more than happy to help. Wishing you a good one.

carynv
Level 1

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

Thank you for taking the time to respond.  Well noted!

 

akinger
Level 2

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

I would like this feature to be added as well. It’s a pain to not have the options I want for categories. 

Adrian_A
Moderator

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

This isn't the kind of experience that we want you to come across, akinger.

 

I'll take note of this idea and share it with our Developers. You can also send feedback on your end by clicking the Feedback button.

 

Here's how:

 

  1. From the Gear icon, select Feedback.
  2. Enter a description..
  3. Click Next.

 

I'll be around if there's anything that I can help. Keep safe!

JSSE
Level 4

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

Another request for custom categories in QuickBooks Self Employed. As an accounting tool it would make total sense for Self Employed users to be able to create categories that are relevant to their business. (For both income and expenses). I understand that this is already possible in other versions of QB - Please make this possible in QB SE.

Ashleigh1
QuickBooks Team

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

Hello JJSE, thanks for sharing this feedback, we will pass this on to the relevant team. 

JSSE
Level 4

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

Thanks - but isn't that what was said above, back in June 2021? We're now in Nov 2023.

Ashleigh1
QuickBooks Team

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

we appreciate that but it is still not an available feature in the self-employed product.  

JSSE
Level 4

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

Thanks - I'm aware of that - which is why I am requesting it.

Self Employed businesses will deal with a large range of income & expense categories - it would make sense for Quickbooks to enable Self Employed users to create categories that are relevant to their businesses.

JSSE
Level 4

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

This appears to have been marked as 'Solved' by someone from Quickbooks.

 

However for clarity for anyone who is looking into this - it is not solved - the issue still exists - it is still not possible to create custom categories which are relevant to individual businesses in the Quickbooks Self Employed version.

The thread should really be left as 'Unsolved' until such a time that Quickbooks have actually solved the issue.

Marking this thread as solved before then is just misleading to customers.

 

GeorgiaC
QuickBooks Team

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

Hi JSSE, thanks for your contribution. We mark posts as resolved when the correct response has been provided (in this case, that the feature isn't available and feedback is required). This is to prevent users visiting the thread from reading all replies. 

 

If you haven't already, we'd also be grateful if you could share your feedback on our new QuickBooks Idea Exchange forum. We'll be reviewing all ideas submitted here, and if it gets to over 50 votes, we will review it with our Product team. 

JSSE
Level 4

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

Hello GeorgiaC,

Thank you for your response.

 

Perhaps it would be better / clearer and less misleading for QB staff to mark the post as 'Answered' rather than 'Resolved'. This would be correct and accurate rather than marking it as 'Resolved' which is both incorrect and misleading.

However you look at it, the issue is not and has not been resolved by the answer given - therefore marking the post as 'Answered' makes sense - but marking it as 'Resolved' when it has not been resolved is untruthful and is misleading.

Thank you for the link to the Idea Exchange. 

jonbrown6
Level 1

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

What I don't understand is why don't the category names match to the same as those shown on a self assessment return.

 

Under Self Employed on the SA100 return, you have headings for

Turnover

Other Business Income

Costs of good bought for resale

Consturction industry

Wages and salaries

Car, van and travbel,

rent rates, power and insurance

Repairs and maintenance of property and equipment

Phone, fax, stationery and other office costs

Interest on loans

Accountancy, legal and professional fees

 

 

 

The list goes on, so why don't the headings on Self Employed match the self employed pages of the SA100?? 

GeorgiaC
QuickBooks Team

Self Employed - Creating own expense category

Hi jonbrown6m thanks for joining this thread

 

We'll be happy to share some insight on the categories in QuickBooks Self-Employed. 

 

The Tax Summary in QBSE generates figures for boxes 15 - 46 which you can use to complete the corresponding boxes on the SA100.

 

Each heading on the Tax Summary is linked to one or more categories. For example, the heading Phone, fax, stationary, and other office costs groups the categories Office supplies/equipment and Phone and internet

 

Having more categories (than groups) allows you to have a more detailed breakdown of your income and expenditure. 

 

Thanks for reaching Intuit QuickBooks for support on the Community. We'll be around if you have any additional queries.

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