Create a Journal Entry

Sometimes you may need to make a journal entry that affects specific general ledger accounts. The journal entry feature allows you to create journal entries when needed.
Caution: The system will not permit you to use the journal entry function to make journal entries to the following general ledger accounts:

• Bank and Credit Card Accounts listed on the Accounting > Bank screen (Follow the steps below)
• 1200 Accounts Receivable 2100 Accounts Payable
• 2300 Client Trust Funds 2310 Client General Retainer (Trust)
• 2320 Client General Retainer (Operating)
• 3500 Income and Expense Summary
• 6610 Reimbursable Client Costs (Direct)
• 21101 Transaction Levy or Trust Admin Fee (Canada)

Creating a Journal Entry

To create a journal entry:

1. From the left navigation panel, click Accounting.
2. From the Accounting menu, click Journal Entries.
3. From the toolbar above the Journal Entries screen, click +Add New Journal Entry.
4. Complete the fields on the Add Journal Entry screen.
   

   Add Journal Entry Screen Field Descriptions

   Entry #	Enter a name or number for future reference.
   Adjusting Journal Entry	Check the box if it is an adjusting journal entry.
   Date	Defaults to today’s date. From the drop-down, enter the date on which you want the system to make the general ledger entries.
   Description	Enter a description for your journal entry, if desired.
   Transfer Funds
   Account	From the drop-down, click the first GL account to be added.
   Credit or Debit	Enter the credit or debit amount.
   Payee	Enter the payee name if desired.
   Memo	Enter the memo if desired. Entries in the memo field will appear on the general ledger report.

5. Repeat screen field entries for each line item that makes up your journal entry.
6. In the upper right corner, click Save. 

Important: In order to save the journal entry, the total amount entered in the Debit column must equal the total amount entered in the Credit column.

Making a Journal Entry into a Bank or Credit Card Account

Note: You cannot use the Accounting > Journal Entry function to make a journal entry to a bank or credit card account. Instead you have to make the journal entries from within the banking transaction screen.

Warning: You are not permitted to make journal entries to trust bank accounts at all.

Making a Journal Entry to a Bank Account

1. From the left navigation panel, click Banking.
2. From the list of banks and credit cards on the Bank screen, double-click the bank account and scroll down to the Transaction screen.
3. From the toolbar on the Transaction screen, click Add.
4. From the drop-down choose Add Deposit or Add Withdrawal.
   • Select Add Withdrawal if you want to credit the bank account GL.
   • Select  Add Deposit if you want to debit the bank account GL.
5. On the Add Transaction pop-up, enter the amount of the credit or debit to the bank account.
6. In Accounts section put the accounts and amounts for the offsetting entries.

Making a Journal Entry to a Credit Card Account

1. From the left navigation panel, click Banking.
2. From the list of banks and credit cards on the Bank screen, double-click the credit card account and scroll down to the Transaction screen.
3. From the toolbar on the Add Transaction screen, click Add.
4. From the drop-down choose Add Payment or Add Charge.
   • Select Add Charge if you want to credit the credit card account.
   • Select  Add Payment if you want to debit the credit card account.
5. On the Add Transaction pop-up, enter the amount of the credit or debit to the credit card account.
6. In Accounts section put the accounts and amounts for the offsetting entries.