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abricoetzer
February 13, 2020
Solved

Purchase order error: "You must select an account for this transaction." Other forum advice not working.

  • February 13, 2020
  • 2 replies
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I have been trying all the advice on the forums. I have cleared my cache, tried in private browsing, even tried on the Quickbooks Mac platform, but still the same error. I want to create a PO for items, I have selected the vendor and the items, with quantity, price, tax all filled in. Still does not want to save.
Best answer by mv32

Hi Mirriam

 

I tried that and still nothing. Attached is the current setting in the Expenses section. Maybe you spot something there

 

However, what I did notice, is that I can place a purchase order for items that the type is "Inventory", however, when I insert an item that is of type "Non-Inventory", then it gives the error. At least a move in the right direction.

 

But still, I need to be able to place an order for Non-Inventory items since a non-inventory item is something I order from suppliers, but I do not monitor the stock holding on that. This specific item I would like to order for instance is for the cut and assembly of one of my finished products. I provide the raw material, and they put it together, therefore, I allocate as non-inventory.

 

As a test, I tried changing the type from non-inventory to service and ticked the box to say I purchase this from a supplier, however, still the same issue.


Thanks for your prompt response, @abricoetzer.

 

I appreciate your screenshots a lot. It helps me provide an accurate solution to your concern.

 

You can change the label Amounts are from Exclusive of Tax to Out of scope of Tax. This way, the amounts on the item will be completely tagged as out of scope of tax.

 

Let me show you how to change it:

  1. Go to + New and then select Purchase order.
  2. Click the Amounts are drop-down lists.
  3. Choose Out of scope of Tax.
  4. Hit Save and close.

That way, you're able to save the purchase order seamlessly.

 

You can refer to the articles provided by my colleagues above this thread, @MirriamM , @AlcaeusF , and @MaryLandT.

 

I'll add this article as your reference on how to apply PO to an expense, cheque, or bill: Apply a purchase order to a supplier transaction.

 

Please feel free to leave your message or notify me by tagging my name (@Jovychris_A) if you need further assistance. I'll be happy to help you. Have a great day!

2 replies

MaryLandT
MaryLandT
February 13, 2020

I've got you covered, abricoetzer.

 

Creating a purchase order (PO) in QuickBooks Online is pretty easy. It's possible the PO has line items at the Account details level with no account selected. Or there are items in both levels, that's why you're getting an error. See the screenshot below for your visual reference.

 

You'd need to select an account if you enter the item in the Category details section. This will help identify your purchases. 

 

The following steps outlined below will guide you through creating a PO:

  1. Click the New ⨁ button.
  2. Select Purchase Order.
  3. From the Supplier ▼ drop-down menu, select or add a supplier.
  4. If you are shipping a product directly to a customer, click the Ship To ▼ drop-down menu and choose the customer.
  5. If you're using custom fields, fill them in as needed.
  6. In the Category details and/or Item details section, enter the purchases.
  7. Click Save and close to complete the entry.

You can also refer to this article for more details: Create purchase orders in QuickBooks Online. It includes apply the PO to a transaction and other important information.

 

Should you need anything else, please let me know. I'm always around to help ensure your success.

A
abricoetzerAuthor
February 13, 2020

Thank you for your feedback, however, I am still having issues.

 

Please see this screenshot.

 

Am I missing something here?

AlcaeusF
AlcaeusF
February 13, 2020

Thanks for getting back to us, @abricoetzer.

 

It's possible that the item you've selected in the purchase order (PO) doesn't have an expense account. If that the case, ensure to choose one. This can be done by editing its details.

 

Here's how:

 

  1. In QuickBooks Online (QBO), go to the Sales menu at the left pane to get to the Products and Services page.
  2. Locate the item and tick Edit under the Action column.
  3. At the bottom, place a checkmark in the Purchasing information, then choose an Expense account in the drop-down.
  4. Hit Save and close to complete the process.

 

Once done, create a test PO again to double-check. Just in case, I'll add these articles for future reference:

 

 

Reach out to me in the comment section below if you have any other issues or concerns, and I'll get back to you right away. I'm always here to assist. Have a great rest of the day!

I
Imagine That1
October 29, 2021

I am having the same problem. when I click on new purchase order it does not give me the option to select an account for this transaction...can someone help??

I
Imagine That1
October 29, 2021

When I create the P.O. I get a message that says...you must select an account for this transaction? How do I do that?

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