Change the type of an existing parent account or subaccount in QuickBooks Online

In the Chart of Accounts, all parent accounts and their subaccounts must have the same account type.

To change the account type for a group of accounts, begin by changing each subaccount to a parent account so you can edit their account type. Then change the parent account’s type, and add all the other accounts back under the parent account.

Change account types

To change the account type of the accounts, start with the subaccounts, and then, when all of them have been changed, change the parent account. Before you continue, make sure you’re in Accountant view.

1. Go to Settings ⚙, then select Chart of Accounts.
2. Locate the first subaccount to change.
3. From the Action column dropdown menu, select Edit.
4. Select the Save account under ▼ dropdown to choose a new account type.
5. In the Tax form section ▼ dropdown, select the appropriate detail type.
6. Select Save. You are prompted that changing the Account Type may affect your accounting and reporting.
7. Select Yes in the prompt to change the account.

Repeat these steps for the remaining subaccounts, and then change the account type of the parent account.

Return accounts to subaccount status

Once all of the accounts reflect the same account type, you can edit the subaccounts to identify them as subaccounts again, and link them back to the parent account.

To return accounts to subaccount status:

1. Go to Settings ⚙, then select Chart of Accounts.
2. Locate an account to return to a subaccount.
3. From the Action column ▼ dropdown, select Edit.
4. Select the Parent account from the Save account under ▼ dropdown list.
5. Select Save.

Repeat these steps for all of the subaccounts.