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: 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.

Should the net income on the balance sheet match the Profit and Loss report? ›

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

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

Unpaid debts

For example, if your business provides credit to customers or has unpaid bills, the money you've earned may not yet be in your account. Therefore, your bank balance may appear higher than your revenue, giving you a false sense of financial security.

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.

Are net profit and net income the same? ›

Net income is also called net profit since it represents the net profit remaining after all expenses and costs are subtracted from revenue.

Is a balance sheet supposed to match a profit and loss statement? ›

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.

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.

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

If P&L Net Income is Greater than Balance Sheet -- Chances are that an Expense account is missing from the P&L Layout file. 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.

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 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.

What is more important profit and loss or balance sheet? ›

To stay on top of your company's financial performance, it's important to use both the P&L and the balance sheet. What's the relevant time frame? If you want to know how your company is doing right now, then use the balance sheet. If you want to see how your company has performed over the past year, use the P&L.

What is the relationship between balance sheet and profit and loss? ›

Is the Balance Sheet the Same as a P&L? The balance sheet reports the assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity at a point in time. The profit and loss statement reports how a company made or lost money over a period. So, they are not the same report.

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

There is no difference between income statement and profit and loss. An income statement is often referred to as a P&L. The income statement is also known as statement of income or statement of operations.

How do you calculate net income on a balance sheet? ›

To calculate Net Income on a balance sheet, take your total revenue and subtract all expenses, including cost of goods sold, operational costs, interest and taxes. The resulting number represents the net income, a key indicator of a company's financial health and profitability.

What is a good net income? ›

A net profit of 10% is generally regarded as a good margin for most businesses, while 20% and above is regarded as very healthy. A net profit margin of less than 5% is relatively low in most industries and can indicate financial risk and unsustainability.

What is a good profit margin? ›

An NYU report on U.S. margins revealed the average net profit margin is 7.71% across different industries. But that doesn't mean your ideal profit margin will align with this number. As a rule of thumb, 5% is a low margin, 10% is a healthy margin, and 20% is a high margin.

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

Owning vs Performing: A balance sheet reports what a company owns at a specific date. An income statement reports how a company performed during a specific period. What's Reported: A balance sheet reports assets, liabilities and equity. An income statement reports revenue and expenses.

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.

What is the relationship between balance sheet and Profit and Loss? ›

Is the Balance Sheet the Same as a P&L? The balance sheet reports the assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity at a point in time. The profit and loss statement reports how a company made or lost money over a period. So, they are not the same report.

How do I know if my 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.

References

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