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Michelle2018
Level 2

How do I enter an invoice so that it appears under a particular income account on the profit and loss - ie revenue versus fee for service?

Is there something I need to edit when I'm entering the invoice?  I feel like this should be pretty basic but I can't figure it out!

Solved
Best answer December 26, 2018

Best Answers
VivienJ
QuickBooks Team

How do I enter an invoice so that it appears under a particular income account on the profit and loss - ie revenue versus fee for service?

Thanks for getting back to us, Michelle2018. 

 

Allow me to jump into this thread and add some information to the awesome answer provided by @john-pero

 

As what @john-pero mentioned above, the income account is linked to the products/services you sell. The invoice doesn't have a specific field where you can select a particular income account. 

 

Once you set up a product or service items, QuickBooks Desktop will ask you to select an income account (see screenshot below). This will be used to track and handle each transaction, so they'll translate to your Profit and Loss report. 

 

All you need to do is create an invoice, then select the item you want to use. The program will automatically post it to the income account you've initially designated to the item. For a visual reference, I've created a workflow of how QuickBooks handles those in the second and third screenshots below. 

 

To create an inventory or service item:

  1. Go to Lists at the top menu bar, choose Item List.
  2. Right-click the page and select New.
  3. Enter necessary details, then pick an Income account in the Account drop-down.
  4. Click Ok.

Should you want to review how the accounts work in the background, open the Transaction journal within the invoice:

  1. Open the invoice you've created. 
  2. Select Reports at the top of the page. 
  3. Click Transaction Journal (see screenshot 4).

Here's a link to our QuickBooks blog about understanding items in QuickBooks:

 

Understanding Items in QuickBooks

 

These steps and resources can give you an overview of how the program manages your transactions. 

 

Please know that you can always count on me if you need help with anything else. I'll be around, anytime. 

 

Capture 1.PNGCapture 2.PNGCapture 3.PNGCapture 4.PNG

View solution in original post

9 Comments 9
john-pero
Community Champion

How do I enter an invoice so that it appears under a particular income account on the profit and loss - ie revenue versus fee for service?

You enter Items (DESKTOP) or Products/Services (QBO) as charges to your customers on invoices and sales receipts. Set up Items you sell (or services you render) and select an income account that they will post to. Then what your customers are charged will be income to you when paid (cash basis) or when billed (accrual basis). It is that simple.

 

If you sell products you buy and hold in inventory these will be two sided as you will record same item being purchased will go into current inventory asset but against cost if goods sold when you sell

Michelle2018
Level 2

How do I enter an invoice so that it appears under a particular income account on the profit and loss - ie revenue versus fee for service?

Hi John,

 

Thanks for your reply! 

 

I can't find anywhere on the invoice to select an income account to post to?  Would it be on the actual invoice?

VivienJ
QuickBooks Team

How do I enter an invoice so that it appears under a particular income account on the profit and loss - ie revenue versus fee for service?

Thanks for getting back to us, Michelle2018. 

 

Allow me to jump into this thread and add some information to the awesome answer provided by @john-pero

 

As what @john-pero mentioned above, the income account is linked to the products/services you sell. The invoice doesn't have a specific field where you can select a particular income account. 

 

Once you set up a product or service items, QuickBooks Desktop will ask you to select an income account (see screenshot below). This will be used to track and handle each transaction, so they'll translate to your Profit and Loss report. 

 

All you need to do is create an invoice, then select the item you want to use. The program will automatically post it to the income account you've initially designated to the item. For a visual reference, I've created a workflow of how QuickBooks handles those in the second and third screenshots below. 

 

To create an inventory or service item:

  1. Go to Lists at the top menu bar, choose Item List.
  2. Right-click the page and select New.
  3. Enter necessary details, then pick an Income account in the Account drop-down.
  4. Click Ok.

Should you want to review how the accounts work in the background, open the Transaction journal within the invoice:

  1. Open the invoice you've created. 
  2. Select Reports at the top of the page. 
  3. Click Transaction Journal (see screenshot 4).

Here's a link to our QuickBooks blog about understanding items in QuickBooks:

 

Understanding Items in QuickBooks

 

These steps and resources can give you an overview of how the program manages your transactions. 

 

Please know that you can always count on me if you need help with anything else. I'll be around, anytime. 

 

Capture 1.PNGCapture 2.PNGCapture 3.PNGCapture 4.PNG

Michelle2018
Level 2

How do I enter an invoice so that it appears under a particular income account on the profit and loss - ie revenue versus fee for service?

So very helpful!  Thank you, Vivien!  You made my day!

VivienJ
QuickBooks Team

How do I enter an invoice so that it appears under a particular income account on the profit and loss - ie revenue versus fee for service?

Don't mention it, Michelle2018!

 

It's a pleasure to shed some light to your concern! The Community is a perfect avenue to connect with accountants and other QuickBooks users. 

 

Should you need anything else in the future, feel free to swing by here again. Wishing you and your business continued success in every future endeavor. 

Karen9956
Level 1

How do I enter an invoice so that it appears under a particular income account on the profit and loss - ie revenue versus fee for service?

Is there anyway to reduce the list of accounts that show up in the Income Account drop down box ? Currently when we add an item and click on the Income Account drop down box, ALL of the active accounts set up on the chart of accounts appear in the list of accounts to choose from so it makes it time consuming to add an item number and scroll thru all the accounts, and, it makes it very easy for less experienced users to pick the wrong account number to link the item's income $$ to with all accounts showing up !

Angelyn_T
QuickBooks Team

How do I enter an invoice so that it appears under a particular income account on the profit and loss - ie revenue versus fee for service?

Hi there, @Karen9956.

 

I'm here to help share additional information about the Income Account when adding item under the Item List.

 

When creating a new item under the Item List in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT), all active accounts will show up under the Income Account section or drop-down arrow. As of now, the only option to reduce the list of accounts from there, is to make the accounts inactive or delete the accounts under the Chart of Accounts.

 

However, if wish not to make the accounts inactive or delete the accounts, you can just simply type in or search the name of the account in the field to locate or select the account directly. You don't need to scroll up/down to look for the correct account.

 

You can see attached screenshots for additional reference.

a3 type in the account name1.PNG

a3 make the account inactive2.PNG

a3 inactive or delete.PNG

a3 account don't appear.PNG

 

On the other hand, to learn more about adding, editing, and deleting items in QBDT, you may check this article: Add, edit, and delete items.

 

Please don't hesitate to add a post/comment below if you have any other QuickBooks questions, I'll be always here to help you however I can. Have a great day ahead!

econnolly
Level 3

How do I enter an invoice so that it appears under a particular income account on the profit and loss - ie revenue versus fee for service?

I understand that each product is tied to an income account, but this is very limiting.  We also have multiple income accounts and I'd love to be able to select the income account I want each line item to go to.  As of right now, after every invoice I create, I have to post a journal entry to move the income to the correct account. This is tedious and makes for a more confusing audit trail.

 

Are there any plans to change this?

 

Please don't tell me to ask my accountant. I am the CPA.

ZackE
Moderator

How do I enter an invoice so that it appears under a particular income account on the profit and loss - ie revenue versus fee for service?

Thanks for getting involved with this thread, econnolly.

 

I can certainly understand how an ability to select an income account for each line item while creating an invoice could be useful and have submitted a suggestion about it as of today.

 

You can also submit your own feedback while using QuickBooks.

 

Here's how:
 

  1. In the top menu bar, go to Help, Send Feedback Online, then Product Suggestion....


     
  2. Choose a Type of Feedback and Product Area (optional) from your available drop-down menus.


     
  3. Enter any suggestions/feedback in the Here is my suggestion: field.


     
  4. If you'd like, include your name/email in the My name is: (optional) and My e-mail address is: (optional) fields.


     
  5. Select Send Feedback.

 

Your feedback's definitely valuable to Intuit. It will be reviewed by our Product Development team and considered in future updates. You can stay up-to-date with the latest news about your product by reviewing Intuit's Product Updates webpage.

 

For the time being, you can use the workarounds mentioned by my colleagues in this thread. You also have the option of checking our QuickBooks App Store for apps which may be able to help you achieve what you're looking to accomplish.

 

If there's any additional questions, I'm just a post away. Have a lovely Friday!

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