How to categorize a loan on QuickBooks?

Asked by: Malinda Reichel  |  Last update: September 6, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (34 votes)

To categorize a loan in QuickBooks, first create a Liability Account (Long-Term or Other Current depending on repayment) in the Chart of Accounts, then categorize the incoming deposit as that liability, and finally, split loan payments between Principal (reducing the liability) and Interest Expense (an operating expense) for accurate financial tracking.

How to categorize a loan in QuickBooks?

Select + New.

  1. Select + New.
  2. Choose Journal Entry from the Other option.
  3. Enter the loan amount and log the appropriate amounts to the relevant expense accounts. For example, credit the Liability/Loan account and debit the appropriate expense accounts.
  4. Click on Save and close.

How to categorize a loan?

Classifying loan payment expenses

  1. If the loan is for daily operations, it's an operating expense.
  2. If it's for long-term assets like real estate or equipment, it's a capital expenditure.
  3. If it's managing existing debts, it falls under debt service.

Is a loan a liability or asset?

A loan is a liability: As you can see, if you take out a loan, that is money you owe to the bank, which makes it a liability.

How to record a loan in bookkeeping?

The double entry to be recorded by the company is: 1) a debit of $30,000 to the company's current asset account Cash for the amount that the bank deposited into the company's checking account, and 2) a credit of $30,000 to the company's current liability account Notes Payable (or Loans Payable) for the amount of ...

How to Record a Loan & Loan Repayment in QuickBooks Online - How to Split Principal and Interest

37 related questions found

Is a loan considered an expense?

Is a Loan Payment an Expense? Partially. Only the interest portion on a loan payment is considered to be an expense. The principal paid is a reduction of a company's “loans payable”, and will be reported by management as cash outflow on the Statement of Cash Flow.

What is the journal entry for a loan?

Loan received: Record the journal entry when the loan is credited to your bank account. Debit the Bank A/c and Credit the Loan A/c for the amount received. This entry updates both the asset and liability sides of your books. Loan ledger creation: Create a separate loan account under the liabilities head in the ledger.

Where do loans go on a balance sheet?

Even though long-term loans are considered a long-term liability, sections of these loans do show up under the “current liability” section of the balance sheet.

What type of liability is a loan?

Loans are also considered liabilities. You can take out loans to help expand your small business. A loan is considered a liability until you pay back the money you borrow to a bank or person.

Is a loan counted as an asset?

Loans and gifts have significant implications for estate planning: Loans as Assets of Your Estate: The outstanding loan becomes an asset of your estate when you pass away.

What account does a loan go under in QuickBooks?

In QuickBooks Online, you can set up a liability account to record the loan and its payments. This account tracks what you owe.

How to classify a loan?

A loan is a sum of money that an individual or company borrows from a lender. It can be classified into three main categories, namely, unsecured and secured, conventional, and open-end and closed-end loans.

How are loans treated in accounting?

A loan is not considered as income because the company is expected to pay that money back to the creditor overtime, meaning it is only reflected on the company's balance sheet. However, any interest that is accrued or paid on the loan during the period, goes in the income statement as an expense.

Where to put a loan in QuickBooks?

Create a journal entry for the loan

  1. Select + Create.
  2. Select Journal entry.
  3. For the first line under ACCOUNT, select your new liability account.
  4. Enter the amount of the loan under CREDITS.
  5. For the next line, select the appropriate asset account under ACCOUNT. ...
  6. Select Save or Save and close.

What is a loan category?

Loan Category means each group of Loans of a common type (e.g., consumer-purpose, business-purpose, or Line of Credit), and with a common credit grade and loan term (as set forth in the Credit Policy). “

How to record a loan from your business?

Classify the loan as a liability (not as owner's equity). Clearly label the entry, such as “Loan from Owner” or “Shareholder Loan”. Record loan details including amount, interest rate, repayment schedule, and maturity date. Track repayments carefully, noting each payment's date, amount, interest, and remaining balance.

How to record a loan in accounting?

Enter the amount of the loan and log the proper amounts to the appropriate expense accounts. In the following example, the Liability/Loan account is increased, or credited, while the appropriate expense accounts are decreased, or debited. In journal entries, the total of the Debit and Credit columns must be equal.

Is a loan a liability or equity?

The critical feature that distinguishes a liability from an equity instrument is the fact that the issuer does not have an unconditional right to avoid delivering cash or another financial asset to settle a contractual obligation. Such a contractual obligation could be established explicitly or indirectly.

Is a loan considered a current liability?

(Although they might be recorded as separate line items, short-term bank loans are considered short-term debts.) The current portion of long-term debt due within the next year is also listed as a current liability.

Is a loan given an asset or liability?

In financial terms, the debts that you owe are your liabilities. For example, If you buy a house and take a home loan, the house is your property and asset, while the loan you need to pay is your liability. Some forms of liabilities are loans, mortgages, bonds, deferred payments and accounts payable.

Is interest on a loan an expense or income?

Yes, interest expense is an expense. It represents the cost of using borrowed funds and is deducted from revenue to arrive at net income.

Are loan payments considered operating expenses?

Loan payments, depreciation and capital expenditures are not considered operating expenses. For example, utilities, supplies, snow removal and property management are all operating expenses. Repairs and maintenance are operating expenses, but improvements and additions are not - they are capital expenditures.

What is the double-entry for a loan?

An example of double-entry accounting would be if a business took out a $10,000 loan and the loan was recorded in both the debit account and the credit account. The cash (asset) account would be debited by $10,000 and the debt (liability) account would be credited by $10,000.

Is a loan a debit or credit in accounting?

In double-entry accounting, debits (dr) record all of the money flowing into an account. So, if your business were to take out a $5,000 small business loan, the cash you receive from that loan would be recorded as a debit in your cash, or assets, account.

What is a loan account ledger?

It provides an overview of the loan balance and helps in monitoring any financial activity associated with the loan. The ledger is viewable from any loan workspace record, enabling users to track the progress of the loan and monitor the changes in the loan balance over time. Example Loan Ledger.