Net Income on the Balance Sheet report does not match the Net Income on the Profit and Loss report (2024)

The Balance Sheet report shows net income for current fiscal year and it should match the net income on the Profit & Loss report for current fiscal year. There are times though when the reports show different net income which may be due to any of the following reasons and can be resolved by the solutions recommended in this article.

Possible reasons:

  • Balance Sheet summarizes data at a specific point in timeand Profit and Loss summarizes data just for the selected period.
  • The dates or bases of the reports do not match or the filters are set incorrectly.
  • The Fiscal Year preference is not set properly.
  • Possible data damage

Recommended solutions:

Solution 1: Make sure the parameters are the same

Make sure both reports have the same Dates, Basis and Filters. The settings depend on your reason for running these reports.

Solution 2: Check the Fiscal Year

  1. From the Company menu, choose My Company.
  2. Select the Pencil icon.
  3. Under Report Information tab, make sure Fiscal Year is set correctly.Net Income on the Balance Sheet report does not match the Net Income on the Profit and Loss report (1)

Solution 3: Run both reports for all dates

Open the Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss reports with the following settings:

  1. Dates = All
  2. Report Basis = Accrual or Cash
  3. Display columns by = YearNet Income on the Balance Sheet report does not match the Net Income on the Profit and Loss report (2)

If there is still a discrepancy on the Net Income between the Balance Sheet and P & L reports, resolve data damage issues (basic troubleshooting).

Net Income on the Balance Sheet report does not match the Net Income on the Profit and Loss report (2024)

FAQs

Net Income on the Balance Sheet report does not match the Net Income on the Profit and Loss report? ›

Possible reasons:

Should net income on balance sheet and P&L match? ›

This may lead to these two numbers not directly correlating as it pulls from two different periods. However, for someone using a standard tax year, January 1st to December 31st, a Profit and Loss pulled in year-to-date should exactly match your Balance Sheet net profit if it is in the same accounting basis, cash v.

Should my balance sheet match my income statement? ›

The balance sheet contains everything that wasn't detailed on the income statement and shows you the financial status of your business. But the income statement needs to be tallied first because the numbers on that doc show the company's profit and loss, which are needed to show your equity.

Why does my Profit and Loss not match my bank balance? ›

So, even if you have a high bank balance, it doesn't necessarily mean that you have high profits. That's because some of that money may be going towards outstanding bills or future business expenses, which haven't yet been subtracted from your revenue.

Does net income go in the balance sheet? ›

The net income flows from the income statement to the balance sheet, increasing the retained earnings under shareholders' equity. In effect, net income represents the increase in a company's wealth over a specific period.

Does a balance sheet have to match Profit and Loss? ›

The Balance Sheet report shows net income for current financial year and it should match the net income on the Profit & Loss report for current financial year.

Why does net income on balance sheet not match income statement? ›

Possible reasons:

Balance Sheet summarizes data at a specific point in time and Profit and Loss summarizes data just for the selected period. The dates or bases of the reports do not match or the filters are set incorrectly. The Fiscal Year preference is not set properly.

What if the balance sheet does not match? ›

The balance sheet will not be balanced if the equity does not show the difference between assets and liabilities. Therefore, errors in calculating equity can be another reason why your balance sheet has not tallied.

Does balance sheet always match? ›

The information found in a balance sheet will most often be organized according to the following equation: Assets = Liabilities + Owners' Equity. A balance sheet should always balance. Assets must always equal liabilities plus owners' equity. Owners' equity must always equal assets minus liabilities.

How do you know if your income statement is correct? ›

After the income statement has been prepared, its accuracy is verified by comparing line items to supporting documentation like subledger reconciliations and interest schedules.

Is net income different on balance sheet and income statement? ›

While there's no overlap in balance sheet and income statement accounts, net income appears on the balance sheet as part of retained earnings, an equity account.

How do I know if my profit and loss account is correct? ›

How to analyze a profit and loss statement
  1. Check your bottom line. Curious how your business is doing? ...
  2. Check your income streams and expenses. Once you know whether your business has made money or not, it's a good idea to take a closer look at your income streams and expenses. ...
  3. Compare your numbers. ...
  4. Double-check your math.

How to tie P&L to balance sheet? ›

The P&L and balance sheet are interconnected via the equity account in the balance sheet. Any debit or credit to a P&L account will instantly impact the balance sheet through being booked on the retained earnings line.

What affects net income on a balance sheet? ›

The formula to determine net income is sales minus cost of goods sold, selling, general and administrative expenses, operating expenses, depreciation, interest, taxes, and other expenses. Net income appears on a company's income statement and is an indicator of a company's profitability.

What is the difference between the profit and loss report and the balance sheet report? ›

1. Profit & Loss Report—reports on the financial performance of your business 2. Balance Sheet—reports on the financial position of your business 3. A/R Aging Summary—reports on your outstanding customer accounts 4.

What is the difference between a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement in Quickbooks? ›

The main difference is that the balance sheet yields information regarding a company's assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity, while the profit and loss statement summarizes information about revenues, and expenses.

Where do you put net income on a statement of financial position? ›

Net income (NI) is known as the bottom line, as it appears as the last line on the income statement once all expenses, interest, and taxes have been subtracted from revenues.

What item on the Profit and Loss report should be the same as on the balance sheet? ›

Question: What item on the Profit and Loss report should be the same as on the balance sheet? Answer: A. Net Income.

How to reconcile balance sheet and Profit and Loss? ›

How to Reconcile Balance Sheet Accounts: 6 Key Steps
  1. Step 1: Identify the accounts to be reconciled. ...
  2. Step 2: Gather the necessary account information. ...
  3. Step 3: Compare the information. ...
  4. Step 4: Investigate any differences. ...
  5. Step 5: Make adjustments to the general ledger. ...
  6. Step 6: Complete account reconciliation and document.
Jun 12, 2023

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Sen. Ignacio Ratke

Last Updated:

Views: 5497

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Sen. Ignacio Ratke

Birthday: 1999-05-27

Address: Apt. 171 8116 Bailey Via, Roberthaven, GA 58289

Phone: +2585395768220

Job: Lead Liaison

Hobby: Lockpicking, LARPing, Lego building, Lapidary, Macrame, Book restoration, Bodybuilding

Introduction: My name is Sen. Ignacio Ratke, I am a adventurous, zealous, outstanding, agreeable, precious, excited, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.