Manage renaming rules for payee names in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac

Learn how to create or edit a renaming rule for payee names in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.

When you download transactions from your bank, the names of payees on the transactions might not match the names of payees in QuickBooks. QuickBooks makes this easier with renaming rules. When you set up renaming rules, QuickBooks renames the transactions you download with the conditions you set. We’ll show you how.

Create a renaming rule

If there's a payee from your downloaded transactions that has the same name as one of your vendors, QuickBooks creates a renaming rule. Here’s how you can set this up.

1. On the Downloaded Transactions window, select Renaming Rules.
2. Select the + button to add a new rule.
3. Set up your rules. Select a condition and enter the text.
   • Begins with - this applies to any payee that begins with the text you enter.
   • Contains - this applies to any payee that has the text you enter.
   • Ends with - this applies to any payee that ends with the text you enter.
   • Exactly matches - this applies to any payee that exactly matches the text you enter.

   Note: The text you enter isn’t case-sensitive.

4. Select the action for the conditions you set.
   • Rename to - this renames the payee to a vendor name you select. If you want to add a new vendor, just enter the name and QuickBooks will prompt you to set up the vendor.
   • Don’t rename - the payee isn’t renamed. QuickBooks adds a default list of these “don’t rename” rules for checks, deposits, and withdrawals.
5. Select OK when you’re done.

Edit a renaming rule

You can edit an existing renaming rule. Here’s how.

1. Go to your Downloaded Transactions.
2. Select the arrow next to the payee, then Edit Rule.
3. Select Renaming Rules.
4. Select Edit on the rule you want to change.
5. Enter your changes, then select OK when you’re done.