Exporting payroll from QB online to QB desktop for Mac COGS wage accounts

Hi there, RealPickles.

May I know the exact account error you've encountered during the import? Adding a screenshot would be a great help too.

For now, I'd suggest contacting our QuickBooks Support Team. They can guide you with the whole process in ensuring the data is transferred accurately. They're also equipped with tools to securely view your account to determine the main use of the issue.

Here's how:

1. Click the (?) Help icon in the upper right-hand corner of the Dashboard.
2. Select Talk to a Human.
3. Enter a short description of your concern and press Enter.
4. Click I still need a human.
5. Select Contact Us to connect with our live support.
6. Choose Get a callback.
   

Additionally, you can always visit our Help articles page for reference. There, you can read some of our helpful articles that will guide you in your future payroll tasks.

Please let me know if there's anything else I can help you with. I'd be more than happy to assist you. Have a good one.

Thank you for your response.  Attached is the screen shot of the error.  I will note that the account name is not the issue here - just the account type.  It seems that QBO payroll assigns a certain account type to each export and I can't figure out how or if we can change that.

-Brendan

Good morning, RealPickles.

Thanks for following up on this thread. I'd be glad to show you how to change the account type in your QuickBooks Desktop for Mac account.

This can be done in just a few steps. Here's how:

1. Go to the Lists menu, then select Chart of Accounts.

2. Select the account you want to edit.

3. Click the pencil icon, then edit the account details.

4. Choose OK.

The following article provides even more details about adding, editing, or deleting accounts in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.

That will do it. With this info you'll be able to change the account types. Please don't hesitate to reach back out if you have any other questions.

Thank you Morgan.  I do know how to change the account type in the desktop version, but I would like to keep the Cost of Goods Sold wages as Cost of Goods Sold, and not an expense so that I do not have to make a JE to move wages after every payroll.  Is there a way to change the export preferences in QB online payroll to be allowed to export wages and taxes as a COGS account?

I am not sure that file is visible.  Here's another one.

Hi there, Brendan.

For now, there's no option to change the export preferences in QBO Payroll. The program will use the accounts that are mapped in your payroll settings when exporting the data. Follow these steps on how to go to the accounting preferences:

1. Go to the Gear icon and select Payroll Settings.
2. Proceed to Accounting Preferences.
3. Make changes according to the desired accounts.
4. Click OK or Save.

Here's an article about this for more details: Payroll Accounting Preferences.

You can also follow the steps in this article on how to remove accounts from an exported IIF file: Error "You Can't Change The Type of Account".

I'd also like to share this article for additional details and reference: Get Answers to Your Payroll Tax Payment and Filing Questions. 

Don't hesitate to drop a comment or post new questions in the Community if you need more help with QuickBooks. We're always here to provide our assistance again.

Thank you all for your help.  I spoke with customer service today and my problem seems to be a server one, where for some reason I do not have access to the "accounting preferences."  Engineering is working on that issue for me and hopefully that will help resolve my problem!