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claudianiss
Level 1

Can I change the date of a newly created account in chart of accounts to be active as of 01/01/2023, instead of todays date, the date created?

Can I change the date of a newly created account in chart of accounts to be active as of 01/01/2023, instead of todays date, the date created?
6 Comments 6
celticone
Level 1

Can I change the date of a newly created account in chart of accounts to be active as of 01/01/2023, instead of todays date, the date created?

The date of the account being active does not related to the ability to post transactions to that account. If you can give some additional information, I would be glad to help.

CamelleT
QuickBooks Team

Can I change the date of a newly created account in chart of accounts to be active as of 01/01/2023, instead of todays date, the date created?

Let me shed some light on changing the date of a newly created account in the Chart of accounts(COA) in QuickBooks Online (QBO), claudia.

 

When you create an account in QBO, you can only set the As of date field once. If you've already set it to a certain date, you can't change it. However, if the account has no transactions yet or its balance is $0, you can make it inactive. Then, create a new account and enter your desired date in the As of area. 

 

To make an account inactive on your COA in QBO, please follow the steps below:

 

  1. Click the Gear icon and choose Chart of accounts.
  2. Locate the name of the account you want to make inactive.
  3. Select the dropdown arrow in the ACTION column.
  4. Hit Make inactive. You'll receive a prompt message. Tap Yes, make inactive to confirm.

    as of create account.PNG

    make inactive.PNG

 

Once done, create a new account and enter your desired active date. Here's how:

 

  1. Go to Settings and tap Chart of accounts.
  2. Click New. Then, fill in the details.
  3. Fill out your desired date (01/01/2023) in the As of field.
  4. Hit Save.

If there's already a balance or entries, you'll need to transfer them before deactivating. This is to maintain accurate financial records.

Please refer to this article for further information on what actions to take before inactivating an account from the Chart of Accounts
Make an account inactive on your chart of accounts in QuickBooks Online.

 

I'm here to help you every step of the way, claudia. If you have additional questions regarding creating an account or making it inactive, please don't hesitate to ask. Getting your concerns resolved is important to us. 

Emma1964
Level 1

Can I change the date of a newly created account in chart of accounts to be active as of 01/01/2023, instead of todays date, the date created?

HI thanks for your information on changing the start date of an account but does this only apply to Balance sheet accounts 

JoanaC
QuickBooks Team

Can I change the date of a newly created account in chart of accounts to be active as of 01/01/2023, instead of todays date, the date created?

I'm happy to shed some clarification about the start date, Emma1964.
 
It's important to note that changing the As of date will only apply to balance sheet accounts because they are the only type of account that have this field. They represent a snapshot of the company's financial position at a specific moment in time.On the other hand, profit and loss accounts monitor a company's revenue and expenses over a period of time, usually monthly or annually.
 
Unlike balance sheet accounts, they don't have an As of date since they represent the company's financial performance over a period of time rather than a single moment. As mentioned by celticone above, the date on which an account is set up is not directly related to the ability to post transactions to that account.

Let me share this article to assist you with your reports and chart of accounts:
 

 

Don't hesitate to comment below if you still have other concerns about your Charts of Accounts. Have a great day.
DKSonnier
Returning Member

Can I change the date of a newly created account in chart of accounts to be active as of 01/01/2023, instead of todays date, the date created?

Hi this is Debbie, I was attempting to use your response to change the active date on an Income account I just added (01-22-25).  We did not think this business would warrant it's own sub-account under services, but it is growing and I would like to add a Sub-Account under Services called Marketing & Logistics and back date this to 01-01-24.  However, it does not give me the "as of" field.  I wanted to go back to the few invoices we have issued in 2024 to change to this new code, so that all business done in this service area can be captured since inception (I only have about 15 invoices at this point that I would have to go back to change service code, but it doesn't appear on the list until 10-22-25).  We are on cash accounting bases and I have some outstanding invoices at year end, so I really want all sales in this area to be captured.  Probably should have set this up when we originally started this line, but at the time it was a one off and is now becoming a viable business.  Please help....

JamaicaA
QuickBooks Team

Can I change the date of a newly created account in chart of accounts to be active as of 01/01/2023, instead of todays date, the date created?

Creating a sub-account facilitates more precise financial tracking that contributes to proactive business management, DKSonnier. Given that an Income account is part of the Profit & Loss statement, you're unable to change or add your desired date on the as of field. Let me elaborate more below.
 

The option to alter the As of date is exclusive to balance sheet accounts such as Asset, Liabilities, and Equity. These accounts provide a snapshot of the company's financial state. Meanwhile, profit and loss accounts track the company's revenues and expenses monthly or yearly.

 

Since this involves reclassifying invoices from a previous year, I recommend consulting an accounting professional on how to handle these transactions. They can provide other ways to ensure your books are accurate. Additionally, you can seek assistance from QuickBooks Live Expert Assisted to receive appropriate guidance on monitoring your business finances.
 

I'm adding this reference about which accounts can be edited and deleted: Manage default and special accounts in your chart of accounts.

 

Here's an article to learn more about keeping your accounts organized and easy to find: Use account numbers in your chart of accounts in QuickBooks Online.

 

Kindly let me know if you need any assistance with handling accounts or transactions for your firm. I'll be happy to walk you through the steps or provide an example. We want to make sure you're able to capture all of your Marketing & Logistics revenue properly to make informed financial and operational decisions.

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