When I run a class quickreport, the balance column appears to be a sum of transaction absolute values. How do I make it respect credits vs. debits?

I know how we can get the data you need, skipper2.

When pulling up the Class QuickReport, we can customize it to add the Credit and Debit columns. Here's how to do it:

1. Pull up the Class QuickReport.
2. Click the Customize button and go to the Rows/Columns section.
3. Click the Change columns hyperlink and mark Deposits and Credits.
4. Click Run report.

You can use this link for reference in customizing reports: Customize reports in QuickBooks Online.

Here's also an article related to classes: Create and manage classes in QuickBooks Online.

We'll be right here if you have additional queries regarding the customization of class report. 

 James, thank you for your reply.  I have the credit and debit columns and that is helpful, but I would like to have a running balance column.  How can I fix the balance column so it respects debits and credits?

Hi there, skipper2.

I appreciate you for coming back to add clarification with your concern.

To have a running balance column in the class Quickreport, I suggest customizing the report. This way, you'll have the option to checkmark the box for Balance to appear in the report. Please make sure to choose the correct report date range once the columns are already added to the report. That way, you're able to see the specific data for the balance column.

Here's how:

1. From the Class QuickReport, click the Customize button.
2. Click the Change columns link.
3. Checkmark the Balance box.
4. Hit the Run report button.
5. Click the Report period drop-down and choose the right date.
6. Click Run report.

For additional information on how you can customize a report to show the specific details that you want to see, you can click this article: Customize reports in QuickBooks Online.

Please keep me posted if you have any other concerns about the Class Quick report. I'd be happy to help you more.

Thank you very much for the quick responses.  I appreciate the instruction on how to add the balance column, however I think you have misunderstood the fundamental issue of my original post.  Please see the attached screen shot.  When I include the balance column in the class quickreport, the column seems to be a running summation of the absolute value of the transaction amount.  Both credits and debits increase the running balance.  This makes the number in the balance column reasonably arbitrary.  How can I make it so credits add, and debits subtract from the balance?

Hi skipper2,

Thank you for the additional details. I'd like to shed light on the class quick report.

The BALANCE column is just showing the communicative sum of the in the AMOUNT column. It's not connected to the DEBIT and CREDIT columns like a journal.

In addition, the DEBIT and CREDIT columns are just showing the posting sides of the accounts in the ACCOUNT column.

Therefore, your option for this is to export the report to Excel and create a formula to calculate the balance like how you want it to be.

If you have other questions in mind, please let me know.

I have reported this as a bug over a dozen times as well. The absolute value of all transactions is not a balance. A balance is the sum of the positive and negative transactions. In no world of accounting would anyone want to see the sum of income and expenses as a number. Every time I report this bug, I'm met with the same response - a way to do it elsewhere. Can someone at QBO, the makers of a piece of accounting software, please investigate the definition of 'balance'. At the very least rename the balance column as what it current tabulates is not a balance.

i am also very disappointed from this bug 

from 2019 i am trying without success to learn how to get the daily balance of a class

i use also QB desktop and there i have it

i think this is a reson enough to not recommend QBO to one that needs to use the classes functions 

has the information of this bug ever reached the developers of QBO? it is going on from 2018!!!!!!!!!!! 

Hi there, atrbsg,

We haven't received a report about the bug on the report. You can contact our QuickBooks Live Team so they can create a case under your company and further investigate the data on the report.

Here's how:

1. Sign in to your QuickBooks Online company.
2. Click Help (?).
3. Select Contact Us and choose a way to connect with us:

• • Start a chat with a support expert.
  • Get a callback from the next available expert.

You can also send feedback to our Product Team if there are features that you want to add to QuickBooks. Let me guide you through the steps.

1. Select the Gear icon at the top, then Feedback.
2. Enter your comments or product suggestions. 
3. Click Next to submit feedback.

Your valuable feedback goes to our Product Development team to help improve your experience in QuickBooks. You can track feature requests through the QuickBooks Online Feature Requests website.

Keep me posted if there's anything else you need by commenting below. I'm always right here to help manage your class reports.

I am having the same issue. I ran a balance sheet summary and the numbers are from the "balance column" and thus showing the accounts payable as a positive number in the hundreds of thousands and not the under $10,000.00 like it should be. So, when I run reports I have to edit out the balance column since it is causing so much of an issue just so the reports show the "amount" which is what is important from all the bills and payments in account payable. What is the purpose of the balance column?

Hello there, @9130 3525 3968 4316.

I want to make sure I got your concern correctly. Please confirm or correct if this is what the steps you've done? Went to the Reports menu, click the amount of the account to open the Transaction report? Please see the sample screenshot below.

If you're concerned about the Balance column that's not still showing a positive number, it is how it works. The report updates the amount under the Balance column every time you create a transaction affected by that account. The Amount column is our reference if the amount of the created transaction will credit or debit the account. 

You can check these articles to learn more about personalizing QuickBooks reports:

• Customize reports in QuickBooks Online.
• Memorize reports in QuickBooks Online.

If the Customize feature on the report is limited to the details you need, you can export the report to Excel and manually do it there. Click the Export icon and select Export to Excel.

Please let me know if you're referring to something else. I'm always around to give further assistance. Take care and have a good one, 9130 3525 3968 4316.

Back for my annual "how in the world is this not fixed yet". Class Quickreports STILL do not tabulate balance correctly between debits and credits. Class Quickreports STILL tabulate all expenses as a positive integer creating some useless number notated in the 'Balance' column. Change the column name or have it display a balance (In bookkeeping, "balance" is the difference between the sum of debit entries and the sum of credit entries entered into an account during a financial period.) How is this still broken and how does Quickbooks, the accounting platform, argue that this is working correctly?

The fact that you've taken the time to report this issue repeatedly shows how crucial this functionality is for your work, Kirk. Your dedication to accurate bookkeeping and a keen eye for detail is truly commendable. Allow me to join this conversation and provide more information about the report.

The Balance column in a Class QuickReport in QuickBooks Online displays cumulative totals for each transaction line. This reflects the running balance of the account for the specified class. 

Your detailed explanation of how the Balance column should function versus its current behavior is invaluable. I want to assure you that your voice matters and your feedback is essential for improving QuickBooks.

To ensure that your concerns reach our development team directly, I strongly encourage you to submit your suggestions through our platform. This will help our developers receive your feedback directly and prioritize addressing this long-standing issue.

Here's how:
 

1. Go to Settings.
2. Click Feedback.
3. Enter your comments or product suggestions. Then, select Next to submit feedback.
4.  

Additionally, you can track feature requests through the QuickBooks Online Feature Requests website.

Furthermore, you can explore some advanced report customization options in QuickBooks to help tailor your reports according to your specific needs.

Your expertise and attention to detail are greatly appreciated. If you have any other questions related to reviewing the Class QuickReport, please add them to the thread. We're always here to help.

I have reported this as a bug so many times via Feedback. Class quickreports 'balance' is broken. Transaction quickreports functions correctly. What good is the Feedback button if the bug (which some posts here from QBO claim is not a bug) still persists 4 years in?

I appreciate how much you've followed up on this. I just discovered this bug. Am super frustrated by it as it makes a tone of reports unusable. It's unbelievable to me that someone decided this is how this feature should work. The fact that this hasn't been fixed yet or a new column option that does balance correctly hasn't been added is absolutely mind blowing and disappointing.