What is the proper procedure to enter a credit card purchase?

This seems so elementary but I am really struggling with this. So here's what I've done and where I am getting stuck:

  1. I purchased a small downloadable software product (basically a software license, called Software A) that cost $50 using my Visa credit card.
  2. I attempted to enter the purchase by clicking the Purchases button from the Home screen which opened the purchase invoice screen.
  3. I didn't really have an invoice, just a statement so I unchecked the invoice received box and entered the order number as the reference.
  4. I then entered the description of the product, and the cost but the program wouldn't let me save the post until the Item field was filled out. All that was available to me was a drop down box with no choices in it.
  5. I then enabled the Inventory and Services function to create a service item for this software license, calling it Software A licence.
  6. I went back into the Purchases Journal and this time chose Software A from the Item drop down. 
  7. The next challenge is what account to choose. Do I choose my Software Expense account? Or do I choose my Visa payable account? And, if I choose my Visa payable account, how do I associate this expense as a Software Expense item?

Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks!

  • 0
    I think I solved my own problem. I see that I am able to add both the Visa account number and the Expense category to this post. For some reason I failed to see this before.
  • 0 in reply to RickBC44
    There are about three ways to do this. Depending on exactly what you are doing and what your setup is, one is better than the other, sometimes none are better.

    Normally, when the credit card purchase system is setup, in Setup, Settings, Company, Credit Cards, Used, you will have a list of credit cards set up.

    Then in the Purchase invoice you would change the transaction from Pay Later to paid by VISA or some other credit card you entered in the setup screen.

    In the Payments module, if you posted an invoice from before on credit, then paid later, you can still pay by credit card by changing By Cheque to the credit card name.

    I personally will not post an expense and payment on the lines of the invoice unless there is an overwhelming reason why and I can't think of any reason for a purchase invoice.
    eg.
    5200 Software expense $500 debit
    2300 VISA Payable liability account -$500 credit
    for a total invoice of $0