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JanetC3
Level 2

State Unemployment Tax

I can't figure out how to map the state unemployment tax so that my payment shows up as an expense in the P&L.  Quickbooks is taking the amount owed for each employee and when the payment is made to the state, that is put against what was owed for each employee and it doesn't show up as an expense.  How do I map it correctly?

6 Comments 6
ZackE
Moderator

State Unemployment Tax

Thanks for reaching out to the Community, JanetC3.

 

If you need to make changes to your SUI rate, you can do so from the Payroll settings screen.

 

Here's how:
 

  1. Sign in with a web browser.
  2. Use your Gear icon, then go to Payroll settings.
  3. Next to the state you want to update, click your Pencil (Edit) icon.
  4. In the State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) Setup section, hit Change or add new rate.
  5. Enter your new rate and its effective date. For most states the effective date is 1/1. For TN, VT, and NJ, your date is 7/1. If you can't change the current year's rate, send your notice to us. We'll update the rate for you.
  6. Choose or enter any update surcharge or assessment rates.
  7. Select OK.

 

If you're unsure of how you need to set up your SUI, I'd recommend working with an accounting professional. If you're in need of one, there's an awesome tool on our website called Find a ProAdvisor. All ProAdvisors listed there are QuickBooks-certified and able to provide helpful insights for driving your business's success.

 

I've also included a detailed resource about working with payroll accounting preferences which may come in handy moving forward: Change your accounting preferences

 

Please feel welcome to send a reply if there's any additional questions. Have an awesome Monday!

FishingForAnswers
Level 10

State Unemployment Tax

@ZackE  What in the blue hell are you talking about?

 

@JanetC3  wants to know how to change the expense account that is associated with their State Unemployment tax, not how to set the tax %.

 

On that note, to @JanetC3  :

 

What you describe is simply how QB settles the payroll liability associated with the state unemployment tax, not how it is recognizing the tax as a payroll expense.

 

I don't use QBO myself, but I expect that the state unemployment tax is already mapped to Payroll Expenses, same as your actual payroll wages. That is how it works in QBDT.

 

Then again, I suppose it is QBO, so who knows.

JanetC3
Level 2

State Unemployment Tax

My problem was not about the rate but the payment to the state was not showing up as an expense in my P&L.  I finally realized that the tax was mapped to the same account both as a liability and as an expense.  I changed the account for the liability and now the payment shows up as an expense.

FishingForAnswers
Level 10

State Unemployment Tax

@JanetC3  It is mapped as both a liability and an expense because it is both a liability and an expense.

 

See, when you create a paycheck, it has a certain amount of State Unemployment tax associated with it.

 

At the time that the paycheck is created, said State Unemployment tax is automatically recognized as a payroll expense, the same way that the wages for that paycheck are automatically recognized as a payroll expense.

 

The actual tax payments you make should only be lowering the Payroll Tax Liabilities you have.

 

If you changed things such that the actual tax payment is also recognized as an expense, you are double-booking your expenses. This is not the correct way to do it.

sandman60
Level 1

State Unemployment Tax

I'm having the same problem. I've paid my SUI but it doesn't show up anywhere on my P&L

 

Aldren18
QuickBooks Team

State Unemployment Tax

Let’s ensure the accuracy of your financial reports together, Sandman. I’m here to clarify why your State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) payments are absent from your Profit and Loss (P&L) report and guide you through the steps to correct this.

 

In QuickBooks Online, SUI payments are categorized under payroll expenses. This means they will appear in your P&L report as part of the overall payroll expenses rather than as a separate line item. If you'd like to see SUI payments displayed distinctly, we can create a specific expense account for these transactions.

 

For detailed steps, here's how:

 

  1. Go to the Gear icon at the top right portion of the QBO home screen.
  2. Navigate to Payroll settings.
  3. Scroll down and select the Accounting pencil icon.
  4. Choose Employer tax expenses and tick the last option to proceed.
  5. Assign the SUI payment to the new specific expense account by entering the + Add new option.
  6. Click on Save.

 

I've included a screenshot for reference:


image.png

Once you’ve assigned the payments to the newly designated expense account, let's update your accounting preferences to ensure that all transactions show in your reports and your new expense account is integrated into your financial records.


Here's how:

 

  1. Under the Accounting preferences window, click on the Update transactions pencil icon.
  2. Set the Starting Date and End Date.
  3. Click on Save.

 

image_720.png

 

After making these adjustments, please select the correct Date Range when generating the report. This ensures that the distinct line for your SUI payments appears in your P&L statement.

 

image_480.png

 

Additionally, I'd love to provide you with these helpful resources to help you customize and export this report from QuickBooks Online to Excel to enhance your reporting capabilities:

 

 

You can always revisit this thread if you have questions or concerns about reporting in QBO. Your journey with our software is crucial to me, and I’m here to provide the guidance you need to feel empowered and confident.

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