Why doesn't the web app let me set categories anymore? It automatically marks a transaction as complete once I pick personal or business - no further category.

It's nice to see you here in the Community, @prmc. I can share information about what the transaction automatically categorizes and how we can fix it.

If you have created a bank rule in your account, we can review it to check if it matches the transaction that automatically marks complete when you pick a category. Since the bank rule is set to categorize the same transactions automatically.

Once verified and nothing changes, we can perform some basic troubleshooting steps. It helps fix your browser to work better and faster caused of stored cookies and cache that block you from categorizing and managing your transactions in QuickBooks Self-Employed.

Here's how:

1. Restart your browser.
2. Try categorizing your transactions in an incognito or private browser. You can use these keyboard shortcuts to launch a new private window:

Google Chrome: press Ctrl + Shift + N

Mozilla Firefox: press Ctrl + Shift + P

Safari: press Command + Shift + N

If it works, you can return to your regular browser and clear your browser's cache. Then you may see if it fixes the problem and gets started on the tasks at hand. 

However, if the incognito window didn't work, you can use another supported browser.

Please refer to this article for more details: Troubleshooting browser problems.

You can check out the following articles for more information on managing your transactions in QuickBooks Self-Employed:

• Create rules to speed up reviews in QuickBooks Self-Employed
• Categorize transactions in QuickBooks Self-Employed

Post a reply below if you have clarification about the process or any other QuickBooks concerns. Take care!

hey @GebelAlainaM 
This is not due to a rule, this is everything.

And none of your recommendations worked.

Hi prmc,

Thank you for the update. Let me help you further.

When you choose a TYPE, QBSE autoselects the best category for the transaction based on its description. You can click the category if you want to change it. It's still working this way on my end. There's no need to open QBSE using another device to change a category.

The categories in blue text for the Business type are clickable while the Personal spending category for the Personal type is not changeable. What category do you see on your end?

If non of the categories of your "Business" transactions are clickable even after doing the steps above, please contact our QBSE Support so they can take a closer look into your account. They have more tools on their end.

On the other hand, I'm sharing this article for your reference in the near future: QuickBooks Self-Employed annual tax guide.

Let me know if you have other concerns with your transactions. Have a good one!

For any other users struggling with this, I have contacted support and they confirmed that this absolutely backwards process was intentional.

The information provided by @JessT  and @GebelAlainaM is incorrect, as confirmed with live support.

Support also confirmed that there have been numerous complaints about this.

Be sure to file your complaint with live support/chat support and we may eventually get this app to work again.

Solution:

Step 1. Go to gear icon (settings). Under "TOOLS."

Step 2. Select "Manage categories." In the upper-right corner

Step 3. Toggle (switch on) "Personal categories."

Unfortunately, the "Personal categories" toggle (switch off) again when you run a report and then click on particular category (which links to transactions). No worries, simply switch on "Personal categories" again (Follow steps above.)

Rinse and repeat 15-20 times an hour.

It's tax season. Having fun yet?

I found and reported this bug with the QuickBooks Self Employed team at Intuit.

A QBSE rep has escalated the issue for further investigation and solution.

Doesn't work/that's already set for me.

Maybe I misunderstood the issue; are your personal categories missing? Mine were, and this solved it.

This is also happening to me - as soon as I go to Unreviewed Transactions - I select "Business" and it automatically categorizes the transaction - and this is not due to a Rule that I've created. It very briefly shows a category - and then disappears. No option to select anything before hitting Enter. Same for Personal transactions. A millisecond goes by and there's no option to select any Category. It simply auto-marks it as complete.  I need to categorize so I can file my taxes. Now what?

I've checked our records and haven't seen any open cases about this issue, @hbf.

You may be experiencing some browser hiccups. We'll perform some basic troubleshooting to fix it. Let's start by opening QuickBooks Online (QBO) through an incognito window. It's the best place to identify web issues. 

Here are the keyboard shortcuts:

• Google Chrome: press Ctrl + Shift + N 
• Mozilla Firefox: press Ctrl + Shift + P
• Safari: press Command + Shift + N

If it's worked, go back to the regular browser and clear its cache. We advise customers to clear them out periodically to prevent and fix web issues. You can also try using a different browser. Here's the link: System requirements for QuickBooks Online.

You can check this link for more information on managing your transactions in QuickBooks: Categorize transactions in QuickBooks Self-Employed.

Let me know if you have other questions about handling transactions in QuickBooks. I'm always here to help.

You are 100% correct and it makes it much harder to do taxes. I think its a mistake on their part or I dont know how to do it.

The end goal: Ability to choose business/personal and then a category and maybe a rule.

EXAMPLE VIDEO

https://www.loom.com/share/71d5c5ae094e439f842ff78a1c2734c1

Yeah, this is very annoying. This did not happen last year. It's made me have to go use the mobile app to categorize transactions. Which makes for a slow process. Please fix!