Maintaining lists in QuickBooks?

Sequence or order of the XE "sequence:chart of accounts" XE "alphabetize:chart of accounts" XE "chart of accounts:alphabetizing" chart of accounts will be basically in the order of the list above. Subject to the comments following, the order is:

By types, according to the list above

Sub-accounts below parent accounts, and indented

Alphabetically

Manually ordered.

The sequence by types is invariable. If an account of a type exists, it will be in the order of the list. Within types, or within multiple sub-accounts at a level, normal order is alphabetical.

Ordering of some lists, including the chart of accounts, runs in two basic modes. These lists are identified by the little diamonds, down the left-hand side. To change the order:

Alphabetized is the normal or XE "chart of accounts:alphabetize" default mode of a list. If the list has been manually ordered, it can be returned to alphabetical order. XE "resort list" In QuickBooks? 5, click on the left-most button (at the bottom,) and click Re-sort List. In earlier versions, with the list displayed, click List|Resort [name of list. ]

Manual ordering is done by grabbing the diamond symbol to the left of a name and dragging it. XE "list, alphabetize" XE "list, sort" XE "alphabetize list" XE "sort list" Moving it up or down changes its position (if such a move is legal.) Moving it left or right changes sub-account/parent account status.

NOTE:

Once any entity in a list has been moved, the list is "Manually Ordered." Any new entity added will be added at the top of the list, or at the top of its type. This state remains until the list is alphabetized.

Reports will be in the same sequence as the chart of accounts. Asset, liability, and equity accounts appear on the balance sheet. Income and expense accounts appear on the P&L report.

Printing the Chart of Accounts is possible with File|Print. The column headed

Income Tax Line XE "income tax line:chart of accounts" shows how accounts can be set up to report out to TurboTax? Business. This information is accessible in editing the account, but the entries are a matter of tax advice. The setup under File|Company Info includes a tax form choice. Changing the tax form there discards all tax line setups here, so that choice should be made first.