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T
TELLEZZ
February 3, 2026
Question

A/P report shows a check in negative value

  • February 3, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 38 views

PR requires to discount 10% TAX from the total bill value.
We create the vendor bill -> We create a check to the vendor. First line we use the account payable category with the total bill amount. On the second line we us the TAX category with the negative amount.
If the bill is for $2,000, then the check looks like this.
 # Category                            Description                   Amount

1  Accounts Payable                                                    2,000.00

2 TAX 10%                                                                     -200.00

 

                                                        total                      1,800.00

I save the Check and then the A/P report shows the Check -2,000.00

What should be the problem?

By the way. We have made the procedure for more than a year and now came up this problem

 

4 replies

L
LollyNino_CQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
February 3, 2026

Hi TELLEZZ,

 

Thank you for your detailed explanation and for sharing the screenshots. They are incredibly helpful in understanding the situation. Seeing a negative amount on the check can be confusing, and I’m here to help clarify what’s happening and help get things back on track.

 

When you create a check and manually select Accounts Payable as a category, QuickBooks Online treats that amount as a credit given to the vendor, similar to a deposit or prepayment. In your case, the $2,000 entered as a line item on the check appears on the report as a credit or negative balance, regardless of the total check amount.

 

To keep your reports accurate, avoid using the Accounts Payable account directly on checks. Instead, use the Pay Bills feature if you’re addressing an open vendor bill. This ensures QuickBooks correctly links the payment to the proper invoice and clears the balance correctly.

 

To learn more about how to use bill pay, check out this article: Learn about QuickBooks Bill Pay. It gives you multiple options for how to pay your bills.

 

Lastly, for enhanced reporting and optimal use of QuickBooks, contact our Live Expert Assisted team for personalized support and guidance, ensuring confident and efficient use of QuickBooks.

 

I am confident that this will resolve the issues with your accounts payable report. If you have any questions or encounter issues while re-linking a check, please don't hesitate to contact us. I’m happy to help!

L
LollyNino_CQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
February 5, 2026

Hi TELLEZZ,

 

I just wanted to check in and see how things are going. Did the solution we shared fix the issue for you, or are you still experiencing some difficulties?

 

I'm happy to help further if you need any more assistance!

T
TELLEZZAuthor
February 6, 2026

I attempted to apply the 10% withholding tax directly, but the system does not allow the tax to be deducted unless a separate line item with the discounted amount is added to the bill. However, when doing so, the deduction does not appear on the check.

To resolve this, I created a Vendor Credit for the 10% withholding tax. When the bill is paid, the vendor credit is applied, and both the original bill amount and the tax deduction are reflected on the check

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