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 financial year and it should match the net income on the Profit & Loss report for current financial 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 summarises data at a specific point in timeand Profit and Loss summarises data just for the selected period.
  • The dates or bases of the reports do not match or the filters are set incorrectly.
  • The Financial 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 Financial Year

  1. From the Company menu, choose My Company.
  2. Select the Pencil icon.
  3. Under Report Information tab, make sure Financial 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? ›

If P&L Net Income is Less than Balance Sheet -- Chances are that a Revenue account is missing from the P&L, or that an Expense account is duplicated in the P&L Layout file. Modify Statement Layout File -- Add any new missing account information to the P&L Statement Layout file, then rerun the Financial Statement.

Should the net income on the balance sheet match the profit and loss report? ›

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.

Should net income be the same on balance sheet and income statement? ›

For a company that's set up with departments or divisions, the net income on your income statement and balance sheet should be equal.

Does the income statement have to match the balance sheet? ›

Should the income statement and balance sheet match? You will not get your income statement and balance sheet to match – even if you are talented in the accounting arena. That's because they're not supposed to match because these two reports feature different line items.

Why does my net income not match my bank account balance? ›

One of the most significant reasons why your bank balance doesn't equal your profit is due to cash flow. Cash flow refers to the actual cash that moves in and out of your business, including payments, loans, and expenses.

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

A Balance Sheet gives an overview of the assets, equity, and liabilities of the company, but the Profit and Loss Account is a depiction of the entity's revenue and expenses. The significant difference between the two entities is that the Balance Sheet is a statement while the Profit and Loss account is an account.

What is the net income of a profit and loss balance sheet? ›

It begins with an entry for revenue, known as the top line, and subtracts the costs of doing business, including the cost of goods sold, operating expenses, tax expenses, and interest expenses. The difference, known as the bottom line, is net income, also referred to as profit or earnings.

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

Compare the income statement amount with the underlying accounting records, and compare the underlying accounting records to the supporting documentation to discover if the error was made before the trial balance was prepared.

How do the balance sheet and income statement work together? ›

The balance sheet shows the cumulative effect of the income statement over time. It is just like your bank balance. Your bank balance is the sum of all the deposits and withdrawals you have made. When the company earns money and keeps it, it gets added to the balance sheet.

How is net income shown on the balance sheet section of a worksheet? ›

Total expenses (Debit column total) are subtracted from total revenue (Credit column total) to find net income. Net income is entered as a debit at the bottom of the Income Statement section of the work sheet. On the same line, enter the net income amount in the Balance Sheet Credit column.

What if the balance sheet does not match? ›

An increase in assets leads to an increase in equity and vice versa. 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? ›

A balance sheet should always balance. The name "balance sheet" is based on the fact that assets will equal liabilities and shareholders' equity every time.

Why is my balance sheet off by net income? ›

If P&L Net Income is Less than Balance Sheet -- Chances are that a Revenue account is missing from the P&L, or that an Expense account is duplicated in the P&L Layout file. Modify Statement Layout File -- Add any new missing account information to the P&L Statement Layout file, then rerun the Financial Statement.

How to tie net income to balance sheet? ›

A balance sheet consists of three primary sections: assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity. 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.

Why doesn't my balance sheet match my bank statement? ›

Some of the reasons for a difference between the balance on the bank statement and the balance on the books include: Outstanding checks. Deposits in transit. Bank service charges and check printing charges.

How do you verify net income? ›

How to calculate net income. Calculating net income is pretty simple. Just take your gross income—which is the total amount of money you've earned—and subtract deductions, such as taxes, insurance and retirement contributions.

Is the income sheet the same as the profit and loss? ›

Fortunately, the answer to this one is exceptionally simple: Yes, they're the same thing. With that in mind, we'll be using the terms profit and loss (P&L) and income statement interchangeably from here on out.

Is the net income of a company equal to the total profit or loss minus? ›

Net income is gross profit minus all other expenses and costs and other income and revenue sources that are not included in gross income.

How to check if a balance sheet is correct? ›

For the balance sheet to balance, total assets should equal the total of liabilities and shareholders' equity. The balance between assets, liability, and equity makes sense when applied to a more straightforward example, such as buying a car for $10,000.

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