profit and loss statement

Hello, banthateabar.

Thanks for joining us here in the Community. I want to make sure your Profit and Loss data is recorded correctly in QuickBooks Desktop.

When expenses appear as income (positive numbers) on a QBDT P&L, it's usually due to incorrect categorization. For example, recording a refund as an expense instead of reducing income, or a payment applied without an invoice, causing a negative impact that flips to positive income. Here are a few common causes and solutions to get you back on track:

Incorrect Account Type

- Problem: Refund or credit memo was recorded as an expense, but it should reduce income.

- Solution: Find the transaction by clicking the amount on the P&L, double-click it, and change the account to an Income account or apply it to the original invoice.

Payments Without Invoices
- Problem: A payment was received but not applied to an invoice (or applied to an incorrect one).

- Solution: Ensure all payments are linked to an invoice. If a customer pays early, you might record a negative income entry or apply it to an unbilled invoice.

Other Common Mix-ups

- Problem: Other income/expense accounts might be miscategorized, Like bank fees as income instead of expense, for example.

- Solution: Review transactions under "Net Other Income" or similar sections and reclassify them.

By making these corrections, your P&L will accurately reflect your business's profitability. It's always a good idea to speak with your accountant about these types of account changes. Additionally, this article provides info on customizing company and financial reports, for future use.

Please feel free to reach back out if you have any other questions. The Community always has your back!

RE: It [the expense] should show it as a negative but on my P&L, it shows it as income. 

Expenses should appear positive on the P&L in the Expenses section, below the income section.