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lsefcik
Level 4

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

There should be two different date boxes when entering bills to be paid.  A bill from a vendor could have a date of 12/1 but the service was really in Nov, so I want to post it in November, but the post date is driven by the "bill date", which is very frustrating.  Why can't there be an 'invoice date" and a "posting date", with a default to the invoice date unless something is entered?  This is a basic feature of any accounting system and would be very easy to fix!

Solved
Best answer February 24, 2020

Best Answers
lsefcik
Level 4

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Malcom Ziman,

I respectfully disagree that the vendor's bill date isn't important in an accounting system.  Say a vendor provided a service in the month of November.  I would want to "book" that expense in the month of November (the old matching principal).  However, if the vendor doesn't invoice me until 12/15 and has 30 day payment terms, that vendor bill isn't due until 1/15.  Service date and billing date are generally two different periods and people who book invoices just when the vendor bill arrives are actually more on the cash basis than on the accrual basis.  It would be a very simple fix for QB to have a service date/GL Posting date (to get the expense correct) and a bill date.  Since terms for that vendor are already set up in the vendor profile, once we enter the vendor invoice date correctly, the AP due date will automatically populate.  This is the way accrual accounting should work.  And this wouldn't be a difficult fix for QB to make!

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61 Comments 61
IamjuViel
QuickBooks Team

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Glad to see you here, @lsefcik.

 

Allow me to share some information on how QuickBooks Online records the invoice you received from your vendors.

 

When your vendor send you an invoice, you’ll record it on QuickBooks Online as a bill, since it is your payable. The invoice date you’d see is the bill date you must enter in creating a bill in the system. However, if you choose to use the actual date when you avail the service as the bill date you can actually do so. Then, use the invoice date as the due date on the invoice. By doing so, it will not mess up the integrity of your AP aging.

 

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On the other hand, posting date refers to the date when your payment was cleared by your bank. 

 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Community if you have other questions about creating a bill. Cheering you to continued prosperity. 

 

lsefcik
Level 4

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

I think you are saying if the "bill" was for November, use 11/30 as the "bill" date, but if the bill is actually dated 12/2 and they have 30 day terms, change the due date to be 1/2.  Am I understanding you correctly?  By doing this the bill is posted (expensed in the ledger) in the proper month.  Is that what you are saying?  Thanks, that is the work around I've been doing, but I think there should be a box for which month/date you want this to post to the ledger.  I can work around it though; just trying to improve the system so we don't outgrow it.

Rose-A
Moderator

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Welcome to the Community, lsefcik.

Allow me to share some information about the bill date and posting date in QuickBooks Online.

 

Choosing a month/date to post the transaction to the ledger isn't currently offered in QuickBooks Online. The date used when creating the transaction is the date will be reflected on the report.

 

I can definitely see how this feature would be useful. As a team with a massive roadmap, we have to pick new features based on the value they’ll add to the most users possible.
I'll be sure to submit feedback on your behalf. This will notify the Product Development Team that the option for choosing a month/date when entering a bill would be beneficial to running your business.

 

If I can be of help while working in QuickBooks, feel free to let me know by adding a reply below.

Malcolm Ziman
Level 10

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.


@lsefcik wrote:

 This is a basic feature of any accounting system 


An accounting system has no reason to concern itself with the the vendor's bill date, as it is irrelevant. It is the service date (or goods delivery date) that determines the accounting entry. This is usually the the vendor's bill date.

The Due Date (which is probably later then the vendor's bill date) is also important in order to run an AP aging report, and plan cash flow.  It is of course an available field in an accounting system 

tracey-bdseafoods
Level 2

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

I strongly support Isefcik's recommendation. I have the same problem with her/him and I hope QBO will update with that Feature "POSTING DATE" on Bill.

 

Thanks so much,

Tracey.

BettyJaneB
QuickBooks Team

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Thanks for joining here in the Community, @tracey-bdseafoods.

 

I'd like to ensure that this concern will be taken care of. I'd encourage you sending this feedback straight to our developers. Doing this helps them understand the importance of this feature can have to you and your business. You can do this by clicking the Gear icon on your QuickBooks and select Feedback. You can also visit this link: Customer Feedback for QuickBooks Online.

 

I will also do my part and raise this concern to our back-end team so this will addressed to the right department. If you need additional assistance with QuickBooks, feel free to reach out to our Customer Care Team. You can reach them through this contact information: Contact the QuickBooks Online Customer Support team.

 

Be sure to let me know how else I can empower you to make QuickBooks work the way your business needs. Thanks for coming to the Community, wishing you continued success.

kateburke
Level 1

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

I will 100% second the need for this feature!!!

It's a huge issue for my accounting department and one of the primary reasons we've looked at changing ERPs. You can't really do accurate accrual accounting without this feature because you're either opening up prior periods (bad) or changing invoice data (also bad). 

RaymondJayO
Moderator

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Hello there, @kateburke

 

We value your insight about adding the Posting date feature when creating a bill in QBO. I'll pass along this feature request to help improve your experience with the product. It will help ensure you'll have an accurate accrual reporting specific for your business. 

 

I'd suggest checking out our blog posts to stay current on our recent product improvements. 

 

If you want to get answers to your product-related questions, you can freely browse our helpful QBO topics

 

You're always welcome to post here in the Community if you have other concerns. I'll gladly help, @kateburke

HoneyLynn_G
QuickBooks Team

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Thanks for giving your feedback, @lsefcik.

 

We highly appreciate all suggestions from our subscribers. I want to let you know, I hear you loud and clear. Our priority is to help you be successful in your business and optimize your work time and space.

 

All product enhancements and feature releases are based on how much it benefits the totality of users. I already sent a feedback statement on your behalf to our engineers.

 

For now, I encourage visiting our blogs to stay current on all the QuickBooks new and announcements. 

Let me know if there's anything else you need by clicking the Reply button. Have a wonderful day!

Antdavs24
Level 2

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Since feedback is shut off and im currently having this issue as well I felt obligated to back up the OP on this feature. 

 

I recently switched to QBO and can't believe there's no way to offset the posting vs. invoice date. I recently closed my fiscal year 9/30. Obviously there are still expenses that we will be receiving that will be dated before that 9/30 date, because that's how the postal system works. 

 

So now I have no options but to post this with the billing date (because for audit purposes that's what needs to be done), and constantly have my prior fiscal year figures altered. Closing the books is not an option because how can I report these expenses then if the period I'm posting in is closed, again without altering the billing date. 

JDCPA
Level 1

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

can you provide an update for resolution on this please

katherinejoyceO
QuickBooks Team

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Thanks for joining this conversation, @JDCPA. I understand how convenient it would have been to have this feature available in QuickBooks. 

 

For now, I'd suggest you regularly check our QuickBooks Online Blog for product updates and feature enhancements.

 

I'll be keeping an eye on this matter and circle back with you whenever an update is available. Your patience is highly appreciated. 
 

princesstiki
Level 1

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

There is an obvious need for this.  Most large accounts payables systems have this feature.  You need to have the correct invoice date recorded for various reasons:  audit, communication with the vendor, to identify invoices that are consistently received late, imaging software will capture a printed invoice date.  It is a REALLY POOR BUSINESS PRACTICE to suggest that an AP clerk not capture the preprinted invoice date.  However, anyone can tell you that AP will always receive a few invoices after the period is closed.  So, you enter those items into the current period, but the invoice date remains the same.  In Oracle you have two date fields.  Invoice Date and Accounting Date.  If a period is open, the invoice date and the accounting date are the same.  If not, you need to enter a date from the open period (typically the data entry date)

cseale
Level 1

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

It is unbelievable that QB does not have the capability of posting an invoice to the GL in a different period than the invoice date.  This is accrual accounting 101.  It is also unbelievable that this functionality has not been added even though the original post was made over a year ago.  This is a major flaw in QB and in my opinion is justification for anyone considering using QB to choose another solution.  Come on QB......FIX THIS ISSUE!!

mmurrell
Level 1

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

I am having the exact same issue.  Has QBO addressed this yet?

lsefcik
Level 4

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Malcom Ziman,

I respectfully disagree that the vendor's bill date isn't important in an accounting system.  Say a vendor provided a service in the month of November.  I would want to "book" that expense in the month of November (the old matching principal).  However, if the vendor doesn't invoice me until 12/15 and has 30 day payment terms, that vendor bill isn't due until 1/15.  Service date and billing date are generally two different periods and people who book invoices just when the vendor bill arrives are actually more on the cash basis than on the accrual basis.  It would be a very simple fix for QB to have a service date/GL Posting date (to get the expense correct) and a bill date.  Since terms for that vendor are already set up in the vendor profile, once we enter the vendor invoice date correctly, the AP due date will automatically populate.  This is the way accrual accounting should work.  And this wouldn't be a difficult fix for QB to make!

lsefcik
Level 4

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Exactly!  Any CPA doing accounting in QB would want this feature!

 

syamada
Level 1

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

We're looking at switching accounting systems to Quickbooks and the ability to separately designate a posting date and a document (bill/invoice) date is critical for us. 

 

Have there been any updates to this feature request? 

ljbellars
Level 1

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

This feature is needed, I'm a UK chartered accountant and I cant prepare accounts with ease without this.  might change accounting packages due to this alone - I also will not be recommending until resloved 

bell22022
Level 1

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Yes, a separate posting date and invoice date is a much needed feature. 

Alipack
Level 1

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

In our case, our company import goods from different places in the world.  Travel or transit time is around 20-30 days before reach our warehouse in US.  Our suppliers bill are usually based on B/L date and we want to post that Bill as soon the supplier send it to us so terms start running.  To do so, we have to enter all goods in QB that are still in transit and that is a problem to control inventories.   To have BILL DATE and RECEIPT DATE is very useful to trace and control inventories.    This is a very good idea to be incorporated in your software.  For sure people will use it and love it.  

clapel76
Level 2

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Any update on this posting date feature?

Posting date is needed it, when a month or year is closed some invoice are still received, even though for accounting principles you have made an accrual to hit the expense in the right period (Journal Entry), then when invoice is received from vendor you reverse that JE in the new year and post the invoice using the posting date separately from the document or invoice date. 

Can this feature be added and fixed?

 

 

TirzahC
QuickBooks Team

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

Welcome to this conversation,@clapel76. I appreciate you for sharing your sentiments with us. 

 

At this time, the date warning option for future transactions is not available in QuickBooks Online. Please know that your voice matters. QuickBooks enhancements are largely the results of feedback provided by users like you. Thus, I suggest sending your feedback to our Product Development. This way, we can improve your QuickBooks experience. Here's how:

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

In the meantime, I recommend visiting our QuickBooks Online Blog to get recent news and feature updates. I’ll let you know if there are any changes by updating this thread. 

 

You can check this how do I submit feedback? article for more information. 

 

Let me know if you have additional questions or concerns. I'm always here to help in any way I can.

mmurrell1
Level 2

We really need a space for bill date and posting date! They are many times not the same and because I need an invoice posted in a certain month, I need to put in a false invoice date.

I am appalled this has not been addressed by the QBO team.  Several of my clients need this Invoice Date / Accounting Date feature for various reasons.  I am a QBO Certified Pro, a CPA, and I purchase QBO using their wholesale program.  Because this has remained unresolved, I may not recommend QBO to my new clients.  I am also contemplating having a conversation with my current clients about the possibility of migrating to different bookkeeping software.  

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