Creating an Expense Category

Written by
Junica Ann Capili
Published on
December 27, 2023 at 7:39:05 AM PST December 27, 2023 at 7:39:05 AM PSTth, December 27, 2023 at 7:39:05 AM PST

Expenses can be grouped into expense categories that are associated with specific expense accounts.

When employees enter expense reports, they select a category for each expense, and the expense automatically posts to the associated expense account.

To create an expense category:

  1. Go toSetup > Accounting > Setup Tasks > Expense Categories > New.

  2. In theNamefield, enter the name of this expense category.

  3. In theDescriptionfield, enter a description of this category.

    This description shows in the Expense Categories list.

  4. If you use Charge-Based Billing, in theExpense Itemfield, select an item to associate with this category.

  5. In theExpense Accountfield, select the expense account for items charged to this category.

    Create new accounts atLists > Accounting > Accounts > New.

  6. If you use corporate card expenses for expense reports, check thePersonal Corporate Card Expensebox. This designates this expense category for personal expenses charged to a corporate credit card.

    Note: Corporate card expense categories can only use other asset accounts. If your company does not use expanded account lists, the corporate card field on expense categories is disabled. Any expense category attached to an other asset account is automatically designated a corporate card expense. To enable the expanded account list preference, go toSetup > Accounting > Preferences > Accounting Preferences> General Ledger.
  7. If you would like to specify a rate for this category on expense reports, checkRate is Requiredand enter a default rate.

    When entering expense reports with this category, theQuantityandRatefields are used to calculate the expense amount.

  8. If you use OneWorld, select the subsidiaries you want this expense category to be available to. The list of available subsidiaries is filtered based on the subsidiaries available to use the selected expense item or expense account.

  9. ClickSave.

You can choose to add the Expense Category field to show on the expense sublist of purchase transactions. Then, line-item expenses can be grouped by category. When you choose a category in the expense sublist, the account defaults from the category record and cannot be changed.

The following transactions can be customized to show expense categories:

  • Checks

  • Bills

  • Vendor Credits

  • Purchase Orders

  • Expense Reports

To customize a transaction, view the transaction and click Edit. Then, in the Customize list, click Customize Form.

Expense Account Override on Expense Reports

You can select an expense account for individual expense items on an expense report. By default, expense accounts on line items for expense reports are determined by the selected expense category. The Account field is automatically hidden on expense report forms for line items. You must customize your expense report forms to enable expense account override.

You can also remove the Category field from expense reports and the field is no longer required. The Account field is now required. It is populated automatically by the Category field. However, you can update the Account field to select a different account.

Note: You cannot use personal corporate card expenses if you hide the Category field on expense line items.