Change the sales tax rate for all customers

sarah8311 · ‎January 04, 2019

How do you change the sales tax rate for all customers at once on Quickbooks Pro desktop. Each time I create a new invoice for an old customer, it brings up the last sales tax amount used which is usually fine, however, we have a new sales tax rate this year, and my users cannot remember to change the rate each time they make a new invoice.

PreciousB · ‎January 04, 2019

Thanks for sharing your QuickBooks version, sarah8311.

Though we are unable to change the sales tax rate for all customers at once, QuickBooks has a way to edit customer’s information in bulk. You can copy and paste the tax rate of one customer to another customer. It’s not a one-time change of rate however, it’s a lot faster than going through each of their profiles. You’ll need to use the down arrow on your keyboard and paste the rate.

Let me show you how:

Go to the Lists menu, then choose Add/Edit Multiple List Entries.
Select Customers under List.
Use the Slide Bar at the bottom to find the Tax Item column name.
If it's not there, please follow these steps:

a. Click the Customize Columns button.

b. Select the Tax Item name from Available Columns to Chosen Columns (see screenshot below).

c. Highlight the Tax Item column name and click the Move Up button to until it

shows next to Name.

d. Click OK.

5. Start changing the tax rate of the first customer and copy the entire field.
6. Press the down arrow key on your keyboard, and paste the copied tax rate.
7. Continue until you finish pasting the information to all customers.
8. Click Save Changes.

Here's a relevant article that'll provide you with detailed steps: Add and edit multiple customers, vendors, and items.

That should help you update the customer's sales tax rate. Let me know the results after trying the steps above. I'm to here provide you additional assistance if you need anything else. Have a good one.

View solution in original post

Anonymous · ‎January 04, 2019

Edit the old sales tax item and enter the new rate.

PreciousB · ‎January 04, 2019

Thanks for sharing your QuickBooks version, sarah8311.

Though we are unable to change the sales tax rate for all customers at once, QuickBooks has a way to edit customer’s information in bulk. You can copy and paste the tax rate of one customer to another customer. It’s not a one-time change of rate however, it’s a lot faster than going through each of their profiles. You’ll need to use the down arrow on your keyboard and paste the rate.

Let me show you how:

Go to the Lists menu, then choose Add/Edit Multiple List Entries.
Select Customers under List.
Use the Slide Bar at the bottom to find the Tax Item column name.
If it's not there, please follow these steps:

a. Click the Customize Columns button.

b. Select the Tax Item name from Available Columns to Chosen Columns (see screenshot below).

c. Highlight the Tax Item column name and click the Move Up button to until it

shows next to Name.

d. Click OK.

5. Start changing the tax rate of the first customer and copy the entire field.
6. Press the down arrow key on your keyboard, and paste the copied tax rate.
7. Continue until you finish pasting the information to all customers.
8. Click Save Changes.

Here's a relevant article that'll provide you with detailed steps: Add and edit multiple customers, vendors, and items.

That should help you update the customer's sales tax rate. Let me know the results after trying the steps above. I'm to here provide you additional assistance if you need anything else. Have a good one.

sarah8311 · ‎January 04, 2019

Thank you. I was able to do exactly what I needed using this method very quickly. Thanks!!

PreciousB · ‎January 04, 2019

Well done, sarah8311!

I'm delighted you were able to update the sales tax rate for your customers.

Please reach out to me again if you have any other questions and I'll be happy to help you out.

mfeick · ‎April 03, 2019

I am unable to change the tax rate in my NEW QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2019. I mean REALLY!!

Why is it not possible to go in and just change the tax rate like you could in the older versions?? How did QuickBooks take a step backwards and charge me more money for a NEW version!!!

Any suggestions on help here???????????????????????????????????????????

Been trying the way on it is described on the "HELP forum and it's not working, whay can't we get a phone number for a LIVE PERSON considering what we pay for this.

FritzF · ‎April 03, 2019

Thanks for joining this conversation, @mfeick.

I appreciate you following the steps you've done to get this working. Allow me to step in for a moment and help make sure that you can change your tax rate in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) Pro 2019.

Just to verify, are you referring to the sales tax rate? If so, are you getting any error messages when changing the rate? Any additional information will be much appreciated.

I tried on my end and was able to change the rate. I also check if there's an ongoing issue about this, but there isn't currently one. To isolate this, let's make sure that you're logged in as Admin or any user access that can edit items. Then, try to edit the rate again. Here's how:

1. Go to List menu at the top, then pick Item list on the drop-down.
2. Locate your Sales Tax item, then right-click and select Edit item.
3. Enter the new rate on the Tax Rate (%) section, then hit OK.

I also added some sample screenshot below.

That should do the trick. For future reference, you can also check out this article and click the Sales tax item drop-down on step 4 for more information: Set up sales tax in QuickBooks Desktop.

Please let me know how it goes or if you're referring to something else. I'd be glad to answer should you have any additional questions about the process. Take care always!

A Dragon · ‎November 28, 2019

I have followed the steps but when I get to the "Customise Columns" step there isn't an option for "Tax Item" in the "Available Columns" box.

A Dragon · ‎November 28, 2019

I have followed the steps but when I get to the "Customise Columns" step there isn't an option for Tax Item in the "Available Columns"

Angelyn_T · ‎November 28, 2019

Thank you for joining the thread, @A Dragon.

If you aren't able to see the Tax Item under the Available Columns, possible that the column was already added under the Add/Edit Multiple List Entries page. To verify, check the Tax Item under the Chosen Columns to confirm that it was already added. You can also scroll the slide bar at the button of the page to view the column.

I've added these screenshots for your visual reference.

You can always skim through our help articles for your reference in the future.

Click the Reply button if you have any other questions. I'm more than happy to help. Have a great day!

ahicomputer · ‎October 05, 2020

That is not much fun if you have a lot of customers.... can't you make an automated way to do it ?

Catherine_B · ‎October 05, 2020

Hello there, ahicomputer.

QuickBooks Desktop is not retroactive that's why you'll have to manually update each customer's sales tax rates whenever updates have been made. To edit it by batch, you can follow the steps provided by my colleague Angelyn_T.

Your suggestions are ways on how to improve our software more. I took note of this feedback and for feature updates, you can always check out our QuickBooks Blog.

If you have other questions, you can always post here. Take care always and have a great day!

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