Add a recurring journal entry

If you enter the same journal entry regularly, you can save time by automating the journal entry. You can create a recurring entry for any type of book, including GAAP (Generally Acceptable Accounting Principles), tax, and user-defined books.

Recurring journal entries work the same as standard journal entries, except that the journal entry is repeated according to a schedule you set. You also have the option to set a reversing schedule for journal entries that are always reversed later.

Recurring General Ledger journal entries can be created only if your company uses standard reporting periods. If you use custom reporting periods, you cannot create recurring journal entries.

  1. Go to General Ledger > All. Under journal entries, go to Journal entry templates and select Add (circle) next to Recurring transaction template.

  2. Enter the basic information about the new entry.
    Field descriptions
    Field Description
    BookSelect the book for which you want to schedule a recurring entry. This can be your accrual book, or if you have GAAP, tax, or a user-defined book, you can select that here. This selection acts as a filter for the Journal section.
    Journal

    From the Journal dropdown menu, select the journal where you want the recurring transaction to be recorded.

    You will not be able to change the journal after you create a recurring entry.

    DescriptionEnter a brief description of the recurring entry. The description is displayed on the Recurring Journal Entry list. A good description can help ensure proper use by other users.
    Reference numberTo add an external reference such as an account number, enter a number. Intacct can sort and filter recurring entries by reference numbers and will also help when reviewing recorded transactions.
    Attachments

    There are multiple ways to store a digital version of a supporting document: 

    The document is linked only to the first transaction created by the Recurring Journal Entry.

    Learn more about who can add attachments.

  3. Add line items. For each line item, include the following: 
    Field descriptions
    FieldDescription
    AccountSelect the account to which the entry applies.
    Debit or CreditIn either Debit or Credit, enter the amount of the transaction. A single line can have a value in only 1 of these fields. As you enter debits and credits, the journal entry keeps a running total in the Total fields. This is a quick reference to ensure a balanced entry.
     When you enter the next transaction (on the next line), the system automatically enters the amount for the debit or credit from the previous line (or lines).
    Allocation If you use transaction allocations and want to set automatic distribution by line item, select the Allocation field, and then select the allocation that meets your needs.

    Enter the appropriate split Amounts, Departments, and Locations, and then save.

    Dimension

    To assign the item to a department or location, select the Department or Location field, and then select the appropriate department or location.

    Select other dimensions as needed, such as a customer, employee, or item. To save space, some dimensions might not appear as fields on the main page. Select a field and then select Show Details to see the full list. You can also change the page layout to include more dimensions.

    MemoEnter a note regarding the reason for the entry.
  4. Go to the Schedule tab and create the recurrence schedule.

    For more information, see Set the schedule for the journal entry.

Set the schedule for the journal entry

In the Schedules section, indicate when the first journal entry should be created, how often it should be repeated, and when it should expire.

Scheduled jobs run shortly after midnight in the time zone set on the Company information page, unless a global offset is included. Scheduled recurrences adhere to this setting. However, jobs with past dates and jobs that are run offline aren’t constrained by the offset.
Options Description

Journal entry start date

When the first journal entry should be created. Start dates can be set in the past or future. For past dates, when you save, Intacct automatically queues any ‘catch up’ entries to be recorded and you’ll see them as posted shortly. Be mindful not to select a date in a closed period.

Ending on

To keep the journal entry running perpetually, select “Never.” Otherwise, select a fixed number of transactions to be created or a specific date when the recurring journal entry should expire.

There are further selections based on the initial selection you make: Never, After a number of occurrences, or End date.

Posting repeat by

To have the journal entry repeat at regular intervals, select Days, Weeks, Months, or Years, then enter the number of intervals.

Email

To send an email alert when a scheduled entry fails, in Email field, type one or more email addresses. Separate multiple addresses with a comma or semicolon.

See our tips for scheduling recurring transactions.

Optionally, schedule an automatic reversal for the entry

If the recurring journal entry is always reversed, you can schedule the reversing entry at the same time.

  1. Select the option to Automatically reverse this journal entry.
  2. Select the type of reversing schedule you want to create, and then specify the schedule details.
    Schedule detail option descriptions
    Schedule optionDescription

    Link reversing entry to original journal entry

    Lets you schedule the reversing entry for a certain number of days, weeks, months, or years after the original entry.

    Create independent reversal schedule

    Lets you create a reversing schedule that isn't tied to the date of the original entry. If you select this option, you can use the same scheduling options that are available for the original journal entry.

Learn how Sage Intacct handles reversing journal entries.