Do I need an account number in the number column in chart of accounts?

Thank you for your post, @suzannek1. Yes, account numbers matter in QuickBooks Online (QBO) for tracking purposes. Allow me to provide more details about this.

The main reason account numbers don't show in the expense coding software is due to the limitation of how the integration between QBO and your coding software works.

To address this limitation, we can manually allocate account numbers in the Chart of Accounts (COA) to make it easier to find and categorize your transactions. I will walk you through the process.

If you haven't activated the account number feature, please refer to this article to enable it before proceeding to the following steps below: Turn on account numbers in your Chart of Accounts in QuickBooks Online.

Here's how to assign account numbers:

1. Go to the Gear icon, then choose Chart of Accounts.
2. Select Batch Edit above the Action column.
3. In the Number column, add account numbers.
4. Select Save once done.

I've included these account number ranges for your guide. These ranges are based on account types and follow the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Additionally, you may want to run and customize a report under the Chart of Accounts. Refer to these relevant resources for your guide:

• Run reports in QuickBooks Online
• Customize reports in QuickBooks Online

I'm just around the corner and ready to answer if you have additional questions about the account numbers in the Chart of Accounts.  If you have any other concerns about your data, entries, or other items in QuickBooks, enter a reply below, and I'll help you out.

Thank you.  I do know how to assign.  My question is:  Do I need them in the Number column in QBs?  QBO syncs better with Expensify if the number is part of the name. 

This way I see them in the number column in QBS but not in Expensify.

 This way I see them in Expensify but not in the number column in QBs.

 How important is that number column?  See below for the difference.

Your prompt response is appreciated, suzannek1. Thank you for attaching a screenshot and providing a detailed explanation of your concern. Let me further share the information about account numbers in your Chart of Accounts (COA).   

The decision to include account numbers depends on your preferences. Nevertheless, I'll outline some  benefits of using these codes.

• Account numbers act as unique identifiers, allowing you to differentiate between different accounts in your chart of accounts (COA).
• This numerical coding system ensures an orderly approach to classifying accounts, making each account easily identifiable and quickly located within the accounting records. Whether you are dealing with assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, or expense accounts, account numbers are essential for ensuring accurate and consistent recording of transactions.

Having you as a part of our community space is an absolute pleasure,  suzannek1. As always, you can visit us for your additional inquiries or clarifications. We're available 24/7 to assist and support you throughout this process. Take care, and have a great rest of the week!   

Thanks for your reply.  

In order for the number to show up in the expense software, I also have to add it before the name of the account.  then I end up with a double number in QBs.  The staff rely on these numbers to code their expenses.  I've gone back and forth over the years about where to put this number.  In all honesty, the accounts added after the conversion from Desktop and the ones that pre-existed behave differently in QBs.  All my accounts have numbers, just not necessarily in the number column.  I am trying to figure out how and where the column comes into play in QBO.  It has not seemed necessary so far. 

Thanks for getting back on this thread, suzannek1. I'd be happy to add insights about number columns in your Chart of Accounts.

When you switch from QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) to QuickBooks Online (QBO), your books may look slightly different. QBDT does not use the same terminology as QBO, as they are two distinct products. Thus, the accounts you've added after the conversion and the pre-existed ones behave differently in QBO.

Moreover, using account numbers is mainly to keep your accounts organized and easy to find if you have an extensive chart of accounts. As my colleague mentioned, including these account numbers depends on your accounting preferences. You can choose to continue adding it in front of the account names.

For more information about different terms used in QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online, you can check out this article: Learn how features and data move from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online.

Additionally, you may want to consult your accountant to ensure accurate financial reporting. If you don't have one, use our Find an Accountant tool to find an accountant near you.

I'm still in the loop if you require further assistance or clarification about account numbers in QBO. Please let me know by tapping the Reply button below. I'll always have your back. Have a great day!