Is a credit card an asset or liability in QuickBooks?

Asked by: Fiona Medhurst  |  Last update: July 12, 2025
Score: 5/5 (3 votes)

Credit Card accounts work differently than bank accounts. They are a liability, not an asset. So, when you pay for something with a credit card and enter that transaction into QBO, it will increase the Credit Card account balance by the amount of the transaction.

How do I categorize credit cards in QuickBooks?

To enter credit card charges in QuickBooks Online, you can follow these steps:
  1. Select “+ New” then choose “Expense.”
  2. Under the “Payment account” select your credit card account.
  3. Enter the date, payee, and the amount for the charge.
  4. In the category field, choose an appropriate expense category from the dropdown menu.

Is a credit card a liability account in QuickBooks?

Credit card debt is a current liability, which means businesses must pay it within a normal operating cycle, (typically less than 12 months). While they tend to have high interest rates, credit cards are a convenient source of short-term credit because they allow businesses to make small purchases right away.

Are credit card accounts assets or liabilities?

Credit cards do not increase your net worth because credit cards are not assets, they are liabilities.

How do I record a credit card in QuickBooks?

Enter credit card charges
  1. From the Banking menu, select Enter Credit Card Charges.
  2. Select the credit card account from the Credit Card ▼ dropdown.
  3. Purchase/Charge is the default. ...
  4. Select the vendor from the Purchased From ▼ dropdown.
  5. Select the date.
  6. (Optional) Enter a memo explaining the charge or refund.

Record Credit Card Liabilities In QuickBooks

39 related questions found

What type of account is a credit card account?

The credit card may simply serve as a form of revolving credit, or it may become a complicated financial instrument with multiple balance segments each at a different interest rate, possibly with a single umbrella credit limit, or with separate credit limits applicable to the various balance segments.

Do credit cards have liability?

No Liability Insurance: It's a common misconception, but credit cards generally do not offer liability insurance, which is a requirement in every US state.

Where do credit cards go in the chart of accounts?

Select your checking account in the Chart of Accounts. Scroll down to the Liabilities section and find the Credit Card subheading.

Is credit card balance a current asset?

Typically, they come up with cash in the bank (current asset), a house and a car (fixed assets), maybe a deposit on a holiday (prepayment = current asset), balance owing on a credit card (current liability), mortgage on the house (non-current liability) – try jotting down your own personal balance sheet to help you get ...

What are liabilities in Quickbooks?

A liability account records amounts owed to suppliers for goods and services that were given to you on credit. It also includes the amount owed to banks and other lenders; and amounts owed for wages, interest, taxes.

Is Visa credit card a liability?

If my card got hacked or stolen and someone else used it will I be liable for the charges I didn't make? Visa's Zero Liability Policy is our guarantee that you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your account or account information.

What is the accounting entry for a credit card refund?

Recording a Refund on a Credit Sale

When a customer returns a product that was paid with a credit card, the return must be recorded appropriately. You will debit the Sales Returns and Allowances with the refund amount. Then you credit your Accounts Receivable.

How do you record credit card payments in bookkeeping?

Credit Card Payments
  1. Enter the credit card company as a New Vendor.
  2. Set up the Standard Account Numbers for the vendor. Use your actual bank account as the Checkbook (the account the payment comes from). ...
  3. Enter a Vendor Check for the payment making sure to enter the amount as a NEGATIVE number to decrease your liability.

How do I categorize credit card returns in QuickBooks?

Categorizing Credit Card Refund Transactions in QuickBooks
  1. Select + New.
  2. Choose Credit card credit.
  3. In the Payee field, select the appropriate vendor.
  4. From the Bank/Credit account ▼dropdown, select the credit card where you received the refund to.
  5. Enter the Payment date, refund Amount, Tax and Category.

What are credit card payments categorized as?

Recording credit card payments in QuickBooks involves categorizing the payment as a reduction of your credit card liability, not as an expense. The initial purchase is where the expense is recorded, while the payment simply reduces your liability balance.

How do you account for a credit card in accounting?

Credit Card Expense accounts are expense accounts, so they are also increased by debits and decreased by credits. Because the Sales Revenue account is a revenue account, it is increased by credits and decreased by debits.

How to record credit card transactions in QuickBooks Desktop?

How to add credit card charges in QuickBooks Desktop
  1. Navigate to the “Banking” menu and select “Enter credit card charges.”
  2. Choose the relevant card account from the credit card drop-down menu. ...
  3. Check under vendors from the “Purchased From” dropdown and select the right one.
  4. Choose the date of the transaction.

Is a business credit card an asset or liability?

Liability. Business credit card: The business owner is liable and held responsible for all debt incurred.

Is credit card an asset or liability for bank?

Hence a credit card is a liability to you, as you are expected to pay any outstanding amount whenever you use the credit card. If you owe, it is a liability. And if we talk about the bank, then the bank classifies it as its asset, because it is an income generating product for the bank.

Is a Mastercard a liability?

Have peace of mind knowing that the financial institution that issued your Mastercard won't hold you responsible for “unauthorised transactions.” As a Mastercard cardholder, Zero Liability applies to your purchases made in the store, over the telephone, online, or via a mobile device and ATM transactions.

What type of asset is a credit card?

Liabilities are debts. Loans, mortgages and credit card balances all fit into this category. Your net worth is calculated by adding up the value of all your assets, then subtracting your total liabilities.

Is a credit card a debt account?

Credit card debt is a type of unsecured liability that is incurred through revolving credit card loans. Borrowers can accumulate credit card debt by opening numerous credit card accounts with varying terms and credit limits. All of a borrower's credit card accounts will be reported and tracked by credit bureaus.

Is a credit card considered a financial account?

Generally, a credit card account would not be a financial account. definition of financial account includes a reference to “any other account maintained with a financial institution,” this language immediately follows a listing of traditional deposit accounts.