I had this same problem, and couldn't find the answer anywhere. This might be a recent addition to Quickbooks, but I stumbled on it.

Edit > Preferences > Jobs & Estimates > Company Preferences > "Do you do progress invoicing?" - YES

Instead of an Invoice, I would create a Sales Order or Quote for $50.00 + applicable tax, requesting 50% Deposit (or $25.00) These are both Non-Posting transactions that don't affect your finances.

When you receive the $25, use the Receive Payments to record it. This will create a Credit in the Customer's account.

When you fill the order, turn the Sales Order into an Invoice with the current date and apply the $25 Credit, The balance owing will be $25 + Tax on $50.00. Your Sales and Taxes are now both accurate.

Here's an article that I refer to when I receive deposits on jobs that haven't been invoiced yet.  You can state the terms in the body of the Sales Receipt.  Maybe this will help you too.

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/community/Manage-customers-and-income/Manage-upfront-deposits-or-retai...

We started using this progress billing option, but I hate that it breaks up the item quantity not just the dollar value, so we end up with half items in inventory which I really hate.  Even though it shakes out after the final invoice, it just looks messy.  I find this silly.  Anyone find how to stop this?

Good afternoon,

Do you know how I can insert on all my invoice a down payment of 30% ? So the clients will know what he has to pay to statrt the job.

Thanks

Problem NOT solved.  This is a work around.  

You didn't specify a problem - or even post a question. What is a workaround? what is the problem?

Sorry to confuse; I thought I was commenting on a thread started by hongfeimark, that asked the question "How to create an invoice with partial payment request?"  -That is my question, but was also anticipating instruction on how the customer can make a partial payment on-line?

Fyi, mostly this would be for the purpose of a down payment. 

It is already possible for me to take a partial payment from my customer if I process the payment.  To do this I locate a box on the Receive Payment page to the right titled "Amount received" and change this value.  However, if I email my customer the invoice I want them to have this same ability to adjust the payment amount.

By and large the simplest way to work around the customer's inability to adjust the amount received is for my customer to hand over their payment information in person, or over the phone so I can process the payment myself. 

Thanks for your interest impossible, but I really just have a gripe that this function does not exist, and I know that many are waiting for it to be implemented.

Hi cmay1,

I appreciate you outlining more of what you're looking for in relation to the original question. From the way you're describing the Receive Payment screen, it sounds like you may be using QuickBook Online as QuickBooks Desktop's Receive Payment screen doesn't have an "Amount received" box to the right.

If you're using QuickBooks Online's Payments service, it's possible to accept payments online. When your customer clicks Pay Now from the invoice, they're able to change the amount they're paying at that given time — meaning they can pay the full amount or a partial amount. For a partial amount, the customer will be able to make the remainder of the payment when they're ready to do so by clicking the Pay Now button again from the same invoice. The only caution I have is to watch for if the invoice gets marked as fully paid even though only a partial payment was made. The card will still only be charged for the partial amount. All you'd need to do then is re-invoice for the remaining amount so the customer could pay the rest. Feel free to chat with our Merchant Services team to learn more about this. They're available at 1-888-829-8589 from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST.

A few users had great suggestions above as well, namely using deposits or progress invoicing. Both of those are also available in QuickBooks Online. Read the following article to learn about progress invoicing: Set up and send progress invoices in QuickBooks Online

As for deposits, here's how you turn on that field of an invoice.

1. Click the Gear icon in the upper right of the page.
2. Choose Account and Settings.
3. Click the Sales tab.
4. Click the Sales form content section or the section's pencil icon to edit it.
5. Check off the box for Deposit.
6. Click Save.
7. Click Done to exit.

If you do happen to be using QuickBooks Desktop, let me know and I'll go over the options for Desktop. I'm also happy to answer more QuickBooks Online questions. I've got you covered. :)

Hi LauraAB,

I use Quickbooks Desktop, would you please explain the deposit field for desktop users?

Thank you!

I got an option for this in QuickBooks Desktop, shoshifein.

You can create a payment item and add it to the invoice. This will act as a partial payment which reduces the amount due, and this is visible to the invoice form.

1. From the Lists menu, choose Item List.
2. Right-click anywhere and select New.
3. In the TYPE drop-down lists, select Payment.
4. Enter the name of the item and select a payment method.
5. Click OK.

You can always go back to this thread if you have more questions about handling your customer's payments.

Yes, this is an option to record a partial payment, but I think we've lost track of the original question. If you go back waaaay back to the original question, the OP wants to add a partial payment request to the invoice. He wants to indicate that a 50% Deposit is payable prior to the start of the project.

I am having the same issues, I take a 50% deposit at time a booking 50% 3 days before the trip and then daily sales on top of them with 2 different credit card processing systems. And the trips don't happen on the day the deposits are taken and it is a mess. 

I've seen a lot of good ideas mentioned above, but each of them have their own problems.  Progress invoicing makes inventory management messy.  Line items for partial payments reduce the clients open balance and subsequently your A/R reports.  The line items used as payment term descriptions seems like a good way to go, but I believe the best method for managing 50/50 payment terms is simply to change the due date.  The initial invoice has a due date set to whenever you need the deposit.  This is between you and your client.  It can be same day, it can be 1 year out.  Doesn't matter.  If the client wants to pay in full instead of half down, perfect!

However, if the client pays half down as you have requested, then go into the invoice, change the due date for when the remainder of the invoice is due, and resend the invoice to them.  This will show them a reduction in the amount due (by however much they paid) while at the same time showing in your A/R that the remaining balance of their invoice isn't due yet.

I know this doesn't perfectly address the OP or some of the commenters, but considering the limitations of the system, this is the best way that I have found.

None of these work-around answers (such as progressive invoicing, receiving partial payments and then changing due dates, or even a 'comment' type of line-item) answers the OP inquiry of QB allowing for PAYMENT TERMS of "50% deposit, balance due on delivery".  Is there a way to set this up IN THE TERMS list?  Only thing I can see for customizing PAYMENT TERMS is to allow for a discount if paid by certain dates or within a certain number of days.  I don't want to discount it, I want 50% up front, and the remaining balance due at time of completion of job/delivery of goods/performance of service.

Hi omanager43. In QuickBooks Desktop, there isn't a way to set up terms like this. If you're still in the 'requesting' stage for the deposit, you can consider creating an estimate and specify when the deposit is due using the Customer Message field. Once you receive the deposit, you can then create your invoice. 

If that's something you'd like to explore, here's how the deposit will be handled in QuickBooks Desktop: Manage upfront deposits or retainers.

If you have any further questions, I'd encourage you to get in touch with our tech support team. 

Cheers!

Same issue here. As long as QB has been around you would think they would have a way to accept any % of payment and be able to automatically invoice the rest over the # payments agreed to with the customer. The only way I see to do it is to invoice for the % initially and set up an automatic invoice in memorized transactions for the balance in number of payments.

What an I missing?