How to setup a bank loan ( Used Truck Purchase) with a down payment

Start with your down payment check as you can include most information in it without using a journal entry. Numbers  as an example.

Price = 30k with 3k down plus initial payments. Without knowing the actual terms of loan and simplifying it let's assume monthly payments of 500. Thus your check or checks up front total $4000 ( 3k down plus 2 payments). If one check or just a 3k check in the check detail lines will be +30k fixed asset for truck followed by -27k loan liability = 3k down payment.

The 1000 additional will include both principal and interest and you may want to wait for your first loan statement to adjust amounts and if the bank does not apply the "last" payment to the loan up front you will record it as a separate other asset type similar to a deposit held on utility accounts and only apply it to p&i at end of 5 years. But whatever the bank says it what you go by. 

You can set up a recurring memorized transaction to automatically record the payment on the 25th of each month and then once you get the statement make adjustments to p & i portions.

The truck asset includes all taxes and title fees but you can direct expense the license plate charge and not have to depreciate it. Depreciation over time or accelerated write off is a question to be posed to your tax accountant

Hi there, EPS2019,

Let me provide the steps on how to set up and categorize a bank loan and record its payment.

You need to manually record the loan payable in QuickBooks Online. To do so, please follow the steps outlined below for your guidance.

Step 1: Create a liability account for the loan payable.

1. Click the Gear ⚙ icon at the right top.
2. Select Chart of Accounts under Your Company.
   
3. Click New.
   
4. Select Long Term Liabilities from the Account Type ▼ drop-down. 
5. If you plan to pay off the loan by the end of the current fiscal year, select Other Current Liability.
6. Pick Notes Payable from the Detail Type ▼ drop-down.
7. Provide a unique name.
8. Enter a full negative loan amount and its date since the future payments to the bank are liabilities of the business.
9. Click Save and close.
   

Step 2: Record the money you got from the loan.

1. Click the + New button from the left navigation bar.
2. Choose Journal Entry under Other.
3. Provide the journal date and number.
4. Enter the liability account created above on the first line. Then, enter the amount in the Credits field.
5. Enter the asset account on the second line. Then, enter the amount in the Debits field.
6. Click Save and close.
   

The money is an asset to your business.  To pay and amortize the debt of an asset, check this out: Amortization schedule in QuickBooks Online. It provides instructions and detailed steps for your guidance.

Step 3. Record a loan payment.

1. Click the + New button from the left navigation bar.
2. Select Check under Vendors.
3. Enter the name of the payee. 
4. Enter Debit or EF in the check field for direct withdrawal.
5. Provide the following information in the Category Details section:
       * First line: Liability account for the loan and the amount of payment.
       * Second Line: Expense account for the interest and the amount.
       * Succeeding lines: Any additional fees along with the appropriate accounts.
6. Click Save and close.

Upon sharing this solution, I still suggest consulting with your accountant. He/She might have specific instructions on how to handle a truck loan.

If there's anything else you need, please leave a comment below. I'd be happy to help you out.

1.  Type of payment is immaterial as it is still a "check"

2. The step by step explained by the staffer includes all the steps but all those steps can be accomplished within the first recorded ACH. You can add new accounts at any time and from the check detail entry screen as I suggested which saves some tune and bypasses using journal entries which can be confusing and will not track by name.