How can I apply sales tax to an entire estimate or invoice without individually checking each line item?

Good day, sdlumber.

You can mark the products and services as taxable. This way, you don't have to manually check the Tax box in your invoices or estimates. 

Here's how you can make the item as taxable:

1. Go to the Gear > List > Products and Services.
2. Click the Edit link of the item you want to modify.
3. Select Taxable from the Sales tax category drop-down menu.
4. Hit the Save and close button.

You can open this article to get more information: Sales tax in QuickBooks Online.

I'm just a post away if you have any additional questions about sales tax in QuickBooks Online. Thanks.

What is Gear?

What is List?

Can you post a screenshot of what you're saying to do.

When I put the line items in, I have to enter the line "Tax" after each line.  If I do not, for instance if there are 10 lines on the invoice and I enter the "Tax" line at the end, the last item is the only line that is taxed.  The other 9 entries are not taxed.  We have to calculate tax on our calculator and write it in on the last line.  Really stupid... but there are no clear directions on how to remedy this.

Let me provide you with clear guidance on how to apply tax to each line item on an invoice, @itskiki. 

When you add or create your products and services to QuickBooks Online, make sure to set them as taxable or nontaxable during the setup. This way, the tax rules you set will automatically apply each time you use these items. 

However, if a product or service should be taxable and isn’t set as such, you’ll need to manually edit the items and switch their tax status from nontaxable to taxable so when you create an invoice it will automatically apply on the Tax box.

Here's how:

1. Go to Sales and choose Products & Services. 
   
2. Click Edit next to the item you want to assign a tax category.
3. Select Edit sales tax. 
   
4. On the Other options section, choose whether the product is Taxable-based on location only or Nontaxable.
5. Hit Done, then Save and close. 
   
   
   

If you're a QuickBooks Desktop user, here's how to manually change the tax status: 

1. Hover over to the Lists menu, then select Item List. 
   
2. Double-click the item you want to edit. 
3. Under Tax Code, click on the dropdown arrow to choose whether to make that item Taxable or Non-Taxable. 
4. Click OK to save the changes. 

If you want to learn how to set up, edit, or deactivate sales tax rates, you can read and review this article for guidance and information: Set up your sales tax in QuickBooks Online.

If you need further assistance setting up taxes, don't hesitate to comment below. The Community is always here to help you. Have a great day!

Quick question:  every single item in our inventory is taxable.  There are hundreds of items.  Is there a way to mass-assign them all as taxable at the 6% tax rate?

Thanks again for all your help!

OK, OK, Thank you for the screenshot.  As I stated in the beginning, I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.  I think I'm on the wrong product forum.  My Quickbooks looks nothing like your screen.  I'll attach what mine looks like.  Thanks, though, for your time and attention!

Hi there, itskiki. I'm here to ensure you can apply tax rates to your entire invoice in one go, skipping the need to check each line item individually.

Please know that the steps provided by my colleague are for QuickBooks Online users. Based on your screenshot, it appears that you're using QuickBooks Desktop. Let's create a sales item at a rate of 6%, then batch assign a tax code for each one of your items.  Doing so will save you the trouble of manually assigning each line item to taxable. 

Let's begin by creating a sales tax item. Here are the steps:

1. Go to the Edit menu, then select Preferences.
2. Click the Company Preferences tab, then pick Add sales tax item. 
3. Complete the necessary details, including the Tax Rate, then hit OK. 

Now, let's assign a tax code to your items/inventory. Please follow these steps: 

1. Hover over the Edit menu, then select Add/Edit Multiple List Entries.
2. In the List section, choose your item types. 
3. Set all items to Tax in the Sales Tax Code column.
4. Click Save Changes. 

When you create an invoice, select the tax items you've created before to apply the rate of 6%. You can follow these steps:

1. Hover over the Customers menu, then Create Invoices. 
2. Once you add the items, the TAX column will automatically show the sign TAX.
3. Select the tax items you've created before to apply the rate of 6%.
4. Once done, hit Save & Close. 
   
   

 
In addition, you can run a report that will give you a glimpse into your future sales and inventory status. These details will provide you with valuable insights into your operations.

By following the steps above, you can ensure that your items will automatically categorized as taxable. This information should give you a broad understanding of how inventory and taxes work in QuickBooks Desktop. If you require further clarification, please don't hesitate to comment below. Have a good one!