Previous balance on invoice includes current invoice, can it be only previous balance?

So you're saying that I'd have to look up (per customer) the prior balance and type it in? If that's the only solution, (and I really appreciate your input), that's hardly a solution that we could implement when generating invoices. Our only solution seems to be to delete it from the invoice altogether which has been a really useful feature BUT takes too much explaining to clients who have been overpaying: the current invoice + prior balance). Wow. (Been using QB since 1998 and am still stunned by what it doesn't do.)

I appreciate your help. I attached the print preview (where the issue is, in the red box). I whited-out client information. The print preview shows that we re-worded it to say "Previous balance including this invoice," which is what we want to change so it's JUST any previous balance (in this case, it should be zero). If you can help, it will solve a recurring problem whenever we send invoices! Many thanks!

Pleased to hear again from you, @TTI.

I appreciate you for sending us a screenshot and for elaborating your concern.Let me share additional information on how you can send send an invoice with the previous balance to your customer.

Currently, the ability to show the breakdown of your Total Invoice Balance on the current invoice is currently not available. Although you have the ability to modify the names of the boxes or item label on the invoice, it will only show: Current Invoice Total, Sales Tax (if applicable), Total, Payments/Credits and the Total Account Balance (includes the previous ones). 

You need not to worry, you have two options to show your customers previous invoice balance.

• You can add a note on the invoice informing the customer that the previous balance invoice balance is included on the Total.
• You can create a statement and attach it to the invoice to show the list of unpaid dues or invoice to your customer.

On the other hand, I can see how showing your previous invoice balance would be helpful for you and your business. I’d be glad to forward these suggestions to our Product Engineers for consideration in future updates. You can also submit any suggestions, feedback and requests for product improvements.

Here’s how:

1. Click Help.
2. Select Send Feedback Online.
3. Choose Product Suggestion.
4. Type in the  details of your request on the pop-out window.

If you need further assistance with the steps, I'd recommend reaching out to our Technical Support Team. A specialist will be able to access your account and walk you through via secured remote access session.

Here's how to contact us:

1. Visit: https://help.quickbooks.intuit.com/en_US/contact.
2. Choose your QuickBooks Product.
3. Select your QuickBooks Version.
4. On the Contact Us page, click a topic.
5. Click on the Get Phone Number button to see the support number.

Please don't hesitate to click the Reply button if you have other questions about  creating an invoice in QuickBooks Desktop. I'm always here to lend a hand.

I guess I can't have what I want or need in an automated fashion. Thanks for clarifying.

Thanks for getting back to us, @TTI.

I appreciate you for following the information provided by my colleagues and our Established Community Backer above. Since the option you're looking for is unavailable, I encourage you to send a feedback directly to our product developer for future updates.  

Here's how you can send a feedback: 

1. Click Help.
2. Select Send Feedback Online.
3. Click Product Suggestion.
4. Fill in the feedback info.
5. Click Send Feedback.

Please know that you're always welcome to post if you have any other concerns. We're always here to help you out. 

@TTI

"I guess I can't have what I want or need in an automated fashion."

Yes, you enable the Customer Total Balance and/or Job Total Balance from the Footer tab of Additional Customization for the template, and Yes, the program will fill in that value for you. As I noted, I use this for monthly invoicing for a template for customers that are not paid in full by that next month's invoice. That's is how you Can Have what you want.

We have the same problem.  We want to show the exact amount due from previous invoice on the line above "Total balance due".  Some clients end up overpaying because it is confusing.  Only thing we came up with to do is send a statement along with the current invoice but that's extra work.

I believe this was answered in an earlier reply (and I should have marked it as solved). That is "Changing the Balance Total column to show the previous balance only is unavailable, TTI."

In other words, we can't show the previous balance owed without including the new invoice charge (in Desktop). I'll mark this as solved, but I still think that feature needs to be included. Thanks for your explanations, they helped.