How to split one receipt across multiple expense categories

One trip to a hardware store or warehouse club often mixes job materials, office supplies and sometimes personal items. Coding the whole receipt to one account distorts your job costs and your deductions.

Steps

1. Total the items for each category (pre-tax).
2. Allocate sales tax proportionally — or ask your bookkeeper how they prefer it handled.
3. Record each portion as a separate line with the same date, vendor and receipt image.
4. Check that the lines add up exactly to the receipt total.
5. Code any personal portion to owner's draw (or leave it out and pay it personally).

Example