Why does the statement of cash flows report default to accrual basis reporting?

Let's work together to ensure that the report reflects the cash-basis reporting in QuickBooks Online (QBO),howong. 

We can perform some troubleshooting steps to fix this. There are times when the browser is full of frequently accessed page resources, which causes some errors or unusual responses. 

Let's try accessing your account through an incognito window to rule out the possibility of a webpage issue. You can refer to these shortcut keys to open an incognito window in all supported browsers:

• Chrome: Ctrl+Shift+N
• Firefox: Ctrl+Shift+P
• Safari: Command+Shift+N

Once logged in, try to run a report. If it defaults to cash-basis, switch back to your regular browser. Then, clear its cache. This way, you can access QuickBooks with a clean slate. You can also use a different supported one.

In case you need to modify the details of your report in QBO, you can refer to these articles: 

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

Please let me know if there's anything else that I can help with your reports. I'm always here to assist. Have a great day!

I've tried those steps and still get accrual view of the Statement of Cash Flows report. The accounting method is not an option for this report based on the UI available.

As well, I even tried injecting the parameter in the URL. I observed the Profit & Loss report URL uses a parameter called "cash_basis=yes" .. so I added that to the Statement of Cash Flows report URL. It still returns the accrual version so this parameter is not recognized unless they are using a different name. But as mentioned, accounting method isn't even an option in the UI for this report.

@howong 

The reason that you don't have the cash basis option for a cash flow statement is because a cash flow statement reconciles net income to net cash and those adjustments generally apply only to accrual basis adjustments.  On cash basis accounting, your net income is the same as your net change in cash so there's no need for a separate cash flow statement.  The net income on your P&L is your net change in cash.   

This is not true. I have used several accounting programs specific to property management. The Cash Flow Statements should be on a cash basis if that is the method used.

The reason I like a Cash Flow report, is that it shows ownership changes to the Balance Sheet account (i.e, principal payments, escrow payments, etc) This does not show on a P&L and the Balance Sheet just reflects the ending balance, not changes.

I need this report to have the cash basis option. 

I have used several different accounting systems designed for property management and the Cash Flow Statement will reflect either accrual or cash basis depending on the setting for the entity.

The Cash Flow statement shows the transactions to the Balance Sheet account which I like. However, with the existing format of the report, the beginning Net Income does not tie in with the Net Income from the P&L because it is throwing in the Accounts Payable balance. There should be no Accounts Payable balance if all bills are paid and it is on cash basis accounting.

@Shari17 

You make good points but I think you're referring to modified cash basis and not pure cash basis.  QB is not a modified cash basis system, it is pure cash basis (and not a very good one at that).  Your examples all point to modified cash basis (see image and link below from The CPA Journal).  Pure cash basis only has cash and equity on the balance sheet (see image below) whereas modified cash basis can have inventory, fixed assets, some payables, long-term liabilities... 

"Balance Sheet just reflects the ending balance, not changes."

You can run a balance sheet comparison report to get the changes in balance sheet accounts between two dates.

https://www.cpajournal.com/2017/09/08/greatest-hits-look-modified-cash-basis/ 

That is correct that it is modified accrual that I am referring to.

However, my point is that the Cash Flow statement should be a report that can be generated using Quickbooks. I have had entities set up as "cash basis" in Yardi and AMSI and am able to generate an accurate Cash Flow Statement. Both I and my clients like the report.

I have also seen the report generated by a company using Rent Manager which I believe integrates with Quickbooks and it is accurate. All of their entities are modified accrual also. The report generated through Quickbooks online pulls accounts payable into the report which causes the report to be inaccurate.

I hope that this can someday be a report I can again use. In the meantime, thank you for the suggestion and I will use the Balance Sheet comparison report.