I'm self-employed and I use my private car for business trips. I'm tracking mileage but I want the mileage to show as an expense in my p&l reports etc. Any suggestions?

Hi there, Andy.

To show mileage in your Profit & Loss (P&L), use the Actual Expenses Method by recording expenses under the payee's name, like a fuel station or insurance company, instead of setting yourself up as a employee or supplier.

Here’s how:

1. Go to Settings and select Chart of Accounts.
2. Click New account.
3. For Account type, choose Expenses.
4. For Detail type, select Auto or Travel.
5. Give the account a clear name, such as “Mileage Expenses” or “Fuel Costs”.
6. Click Save.

To record mileage and car costs, here’s how:

1. Go to +Create, then click Expense.
2. Enter the Payee Name (e.g., fuel station or insurance provider).
3. Select the proper category (e.g., Mileage Expenses, Fuel Costs).
4. Fill in the amount, payment account, and payment method.
5. Click Save and Close.

For more details on the two methods for handling car mileage and travel expenses for self-employed individuals in the UK, check out the article: Car Mileage and Travel Expenses Explained in QuickBooks Self-Employed (the information is intended for QBSE, but it is still applicable to the mileage feature of QBO).

Since car expenses and mileage are broad topics, we recommend visiting the HMRC website for additional information and consulting your accountant for personalized advice and accurate category selection.

If you have any other concerns or need clarification, feel free to ask. We're here to help.