Why are wages and payroll two separate line items? They are the same thing but listed in different sections of my p

Hello, Kyle2018.

I'd like to make sure we're on the same page.

Are you referring to the payroll items listed in the Profit and Loss report? If so, let me share some insights about the payroll accounts.

Payroll Expenses: This account includes your employees payroll and their taxes.

Wages: The amount that shows in this account is the gross employee pay.

If you are subscribed to the Enhanced version of QuickBooks Online Payroll, you'll want to check the accounting preferences in the settings. This way, you can see the accounts where your payroll transactions are posted.

Here are the steps: 

1. Go to the Gear > Payroll Settings. 
2. Under Preferences, select Accounting. 
3. Check the account selected on the Wages Expense Accounts. 
4. Click OK if everything is set up correctly. 

For other payroll versions like Core, Premium, or Elite, I recommend contacting our Payroll Support Team to check the settings.

Here's how:

1. Click the Help icon located in the upper right-hand corner.
2. In the Help window, click the Contact Us button located at the bottom.
3. Enter your question and click Let's talk.
4. Choose either Start a chat or Call us.

If you have the new QuickBooks Assistant help update, you can follow these steps:

1. In your QuickBooks Online account, go to the Help > Assistant.
2. Type Talk to a human and click the Contact a human button.
3. Select Live Chat / Call me back.

To learn more about payroll processing and managing your accounting preferences, you can read these articles: 

• Payroll 101
• Payroll accounting preferences

If you have any follow-up questions regarding the details above or other concerns, please let me know in your reply below. I'll be right here to help. Take care and stay safe.