How does QuickBooks Online produce the Statement of Cash Flow Report?


Statement of cash flow is a financial statement that shows how changes in balance sheet accounts and income affect cash and cash equivalents and break the analysis down to operating, investing and financing activities.

First, the report run is based on an accrual basis accounting method in QBO. It is hard-coded so you can not change it to cash basis method nor can be edited for any preferences to classify cash like in QuickBooks desktop versions.

In QBO, they also have the following three standard sections for the cash flow analysis.

  • Operating
  • Investing
  • Financing

It shows the amount of cash earned from profit, where you received additional cash and where your cash was spent. It uses all Bank type accounts from your chart of accounts. It also includes “undeposited funds account” from other current assets type.

The Statement of Cash Flow assumes that all activity through current assets and current liabilities are OPERATING ACTIVITIES. It also includes “accumulated depreciation” from fixed assets type.

Any entries that affect fixed assets (at original cost, less accumulated depreciation) are INVESTING ACTIVITIES. It also includes “other assets” type.

Any entries that affect long term liabilities and equity are FINANCING ACTIVITIES.

Here is how the standardized list of mappings for the different category type assigned to a section of the Statement of Cash Flow in QuickBooks Online.

Here is detail account list of Category Type (Account Type) for the Balance Sheet accounts from the chart of accounts sorted by Activities.

Cash
Operating

Investing Activities

Category Type
1Fixed Assets (original cost)
2Other Assets
Investing

Financing Activities

Category Type
1Long Term Liabilities
2Equity
Financing

Example of Statement of Cash Flow Report in QBO:

Profit and Loss Net Income line forwarded to Operating Activities
Statement of Cash Flow Report
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