The Detail Sync with Summary Line Item Taxes feature gives you more control over how invoice data is sent from CoreBridge to QuickBooks Online (QBO). When enabled, invoice line items are synced in detail, while sales tax is added as a single summary line. This simplifies reconciliation and works well with external tax tools.


Note: This feature is not enabled by default and will require setup.

          This feature is optional and reversible.




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Key Benefits


  • Supports external tax workflows.
    Works seamlessly with platforms that use imported tax data, such as TaxJar, Avalara, Pressero, or API-based orders.

  • Keeps invoices clear and consistent.
    Each invoice shows detailed line items and one summarized tax line—making reconciliation easier and cleaner.

  • Improves compatibility with QuickBooks Online.
    Avoids issues with how QBO handles tax groups and agency settings.



How It Works

When this feature is enabled:

  • Tax is not synced using a traditional Tax Group.

  • A custom 0% Tax Rate is applied to each line item.

  • Tax is posted as a separate Service-type line item linked to a Liability Account, not an income account.

  • Ensures taxes appear clearly on the invoice and are handled appropriately in your QBO records.



Activating Summary Line Item Taxes

Activating this feature is a two step process.


Enable the License Setting 


This is done by the CoreBridge Support team. Please contact us at support@corebridge.net.


Enable Option in Accounting Export Setup


Navigate to Admin Panel / Accounting / QuickBooks Online Preferences.


1. Check Enable Line Item Taxes.



2. Create the Custom Tax Rate in QuickBooks Online.

Note: This is a required element in QuickBooks Online and must be created manually.

  • Name: CoreBridge Line Item Tax
  • Rate: 0% 
  • Type: Single, Custom

3. Create the Liability Account in QuickBooks Online.

Note: This is a required element in QuickBooks Online and must be created manually.

  • Name: CoreBridge Line Item Taxes
  • Type: Other Current Liabilities
  • Detail Type: Other Current Liabilities
  • Account Number: Any (set by you)

4. Create the Product/Service Item in QuickBooks Online.

Note: This is a required element in QuickBooks Online and must be created manually.

  • Name: CoreBridge Line Item Tax
  • Type: Service
  • Income Account: CoreBridge Line Item Taxes
  • Taxable: Nontaxable



Tax Group Mapping Required


Even though the CoreBridge Line Item Tax group overrides tax groups on synced invoices, you still need to maintain your tax group mappings between CoreBridge and QuickBooks Online.


Why You Still Need Tax Group Mapping


  • Customer Record Requirements
    QuickBooks Online requires a mapped tax group when customer records are created—even if you’re not syncing invoices yet. Without it, new customer syncs may fail.

  • Flexibility to Turn Off the Feature
    If you choose to disable Line Item Tax Sync in the future, your original tax group mappings will be needed to resume traditional tax syncing. Keeping them up to date ensures a smooth transition.

  • Accurate Tax Configuration
    Mapping your actual CoreBridge tax groups (instead of assigning all customers to the override group) helps keep customer tax settings accurate and consistent in QuickBooks Online.



Error Messages


If something isn't set up correctly—like a missing or mismatched account or tax group—you’ll see a clear message during sync setup. These messages are designed to help you fix the issue quickly by pointing out exactly what's missing or needs to be updated.


Line Item Tax Rate


"Unable to find a match for required Custom Sales Tax Rate."


This error occurs when QuickBooks is unable to find a match for required Custom Sales Tax Rate. Set your Custom Sales Tax Rate in QuickBooks as outlined below.


  • Name: CoreBridge Line Item Tax
  • Type: Single
  • Rate: 0%


Line Item Tax Account


"Unable to find a match for required Liability Account."


This error occurs when QuickBooks cannot find a match for the required Liability Account. Create your Liability Account in QuickBooks as outlined below.


  • Name: CoreBridge Line Item Taxes
  • Account Type: Other Current Liabilities
  • Detail Type: Other Current Liabilities
  • Account Number: Any (set by you)


Line Item Tax Item


"Unable to find a match for required Service Product."


This error occurs when QuickBooks is unable to find a match for the required Service Product. Create the Product in QuickBooks as outlined below.


  • Name: CoreBridge Line Item Tax
  • Type: Service
  • Income Account: CoreBridge Line Item Taxes
  • Taxable: Nontaxable



Invoice in QuickBooks Online


When this feature is enabled, you will notice a few key differences in how tax appears on invoices synced to QuickBooks Online.

  • In the Tax section of the invoice, you'll also see a 0% Custom Tax Rate listed. This is a placeholder used to bypass QuickBooks Online’s built-in tax calculation while still displaying your detailed invoice properly.
  • Line Items for Products and Services will display as usual with each item listed in detail.
  • A separate line item labeled CoreBridge Line Item Tax is added to represent the total tax amount.
  • This tax line item:
    • Has a quantity of 1.
    • Shows the total tax amount for the invoice.
    • Uses a nontaxable tax code, such as NT.
    • Is mapped to your CoreBridge Line Item Taxes liability account.


The example below shows how an invoice appears in QuickBooks Online when the feature is enabled.


Example:




Best Practices


  • Set up QuickBooks Online first.
    Make sure all necessary elements—such as tax groups, accounts, and product/service mappings—are properly configured in QuickBooks Online before enabling the sync.

  • Use CoreBridge or your external tax tool for detailed reporting.
    If you need jurisdiction-level tax reports, run those in CoreBridge or your connected tax platform (like Avalara or TaxJar), as QuickBooks Online won't provide that level of detail when using this sync method.



Frequently Asked Questions


1. Is this the same as the Line Item Tax Sync for QuickBooks Desktop?
Answer: Not exactly. While both features serve a similar purpose, the QuickBooks Online version works differently due to platform limitations—such as the inability to use tax agency line items.


2. What happens if something isn’t set up correctly in QuickBooks Online?
Answer: If a required element is missing or misconfigured, the sync will pause and display a message with instructions to help you fix the issue.


3. Can I switch back to the standard summary tax sync?
Answer: Yes. You can turn off Line Item Tax Sync at any time in your Accounting preferences.