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Peter Vaughn
Level 3

QuickBooks Online Automated Expense Categorizing Issues

After importing a huge amount of financial data into QuickBooks Online - QuickBooks (for the most part) auto-categorized all transactions.   Browsing my QBO area I can see that I have hundreds of corrections to make.  

 

I don't know how to change categories.   For example, I pay about $2000 per year for renewing a software license - but, this got automatically categorized as "Meals."  In another instance my local Business Tax (sometimes referred to as a Business License) has also been categorized as "Meals." Then there are the, "Paired to Another Payment" categories - and I have absolutely no idea what that means.

 

Moreover - when I am given the opportunity to select a category for a given expense - often it is the case that I am unsure what the transaction is or was.  I'd need more information or context to perform that level of financial forensics. 

 

Also, since I did import personal credit cards - I need to categorize my weekly grocery bills (and other such ongoing expenditures) - and there ins't a category for that. Although, I did create one while importing - so maybe that isn't a real issue.

 

Anyway, this situation is looking rather sticky at the moment. 

1 Comment 1
MadelynC
Moderator

QuickBooks Online Automated Expense Categorizing Issues

I’m here to provide information and help you resolve this, Peter.

 

QuickBooks Online helps with your bookkeeping by suggesting an income or expense category. Since you’ve mentioned that the program auto categorized all your transactions, it means QuickBooks applied your rules after importing them.


You can follow the steps below to change the categories:

 

  1. Select Banking or Transactions from your left navigation menu.
  2. Click the Banking tab, then choose the appropriate bank account.
  3. Go to the For review tab, then tick the checkboxes of the transactions you'd like to categorize.
  4. Click the Update button.
    Capture.PNG
  5. Select the correct category from the drop-down menu.
  6. When you're done, hit Apply or Apply and accept.
    Capture.PNG


The "Paired to Another Payment" feature is money in into a credit card account and money out from the corresponding business checking account. It also handles them when you add credit card payments.

 

By default, QuickBooks shows the description in your list of transactions. You can enable the Show bank details option. This way, you can determine what transactions they are.

 

Here’s how:

 

  1. Go to Banking.
  2. Above the table, click the small Gear icon.
  3. Select Show bank details.

 

You can use this reference to learn more about handling downloaded transactions in the program: Categorize and match online bank transactions in QuickBooks Online.

 

Once everything is good, you can reconcile your account to ensure the amounts are accurate and balanced. The article includes steps to modify completed reconciliations and fixes.


Keep me posted if you need additional assistance in managing your transactions. I’m here to help. Always take care!

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