Attaching Files to Transactions

Overview

Attaching a file keeps supporting documentation connected directly to a transaction.

Instead of storing invoices, contracts, statements, warranty documents, or other financial records in separate folders, you can keep them with the transaction they support.

This makes it easier to understand why a transaction occurred, verify an expense, provide documentation to an accountant or business partner, or locate an important record later.

Have a receipt? Use Managing Expense Receipts instead. Quicken can scan receipts, extract important details, and help you attach the receipt to an existing transaction or create a new transaction.

Why Attach Supporting Documents

A transaction tells you that money moved. An attachment can provide the information behind it.

Supporting files can help you:

Document the purpose of a business expense
Keep invoices with the payments that satisfy them
Preserve contracts or agreements related to a payment
Keep tax or accounting documentation together
Save warranty or purchase information for future reference
Answer questions from accountants, clients, business partners, or others

For example, a transaction may show a $1,500 payment to a contractor. Attaching the contractor's invoice gives you the supporting details behind that payment.

Who Should Use Attachments

Attachments can be useful when you want additional documentation connected to a financial transaction.

You may find them especially helpful if you:

Run a business or track business expenses
Work with vendors, contractors, or clients
Submit or track reimbursements
Maintain records for accounting or taxes
Keep documentation for large personal purchases, warranties, repairs, or insurance

If a file helps explain or support a transaction, consider attaching it.

How Transaction Attachments Work

Each transaction can have one or more files attached to it.

Once uploaded, the files remain connected to the transaction so you can return to them whenever you need the supporting information.

Attaching a file does not change the transaction itself. It adds supporting documentation to the transaction.

You might attach:

Invoices
Contracts or agreements
Statements
Estimates or work orders
Warranty documents
Reimbursement documentation
Tax-related supporting documents
Other records associated with the transaction

Examples

Vendor Invoice

Your business pays a graphic designer $1,200 for a project.

Attach the invoice to the payment transaction so you can quickly see what the payment covered when reviewing the expense later.

Reimbursement

You reimburse an employee or business partner for an approved expense.

Attach the supporting reimbursement documentation so you have a record of why the payment was made.

Home Repair

You pay a contractor for a home repair.

Attach the estimate, invoice, or warranty information so you can find the documentation later without searching through email or paper files.

File Types

You can attach supported files such as:

Add or Manage an Attachment

You can add attachments from Transaction detail and return to the same area later to view or remove them.

From the left navigation menu, select Transactions.
Locate the transaction you want to document.
Open Transaction detail.
In the Attachments section, select Upload.
Locate and select the file, or drag and drop it into the upload area.
Select Update when finished.

The file remains connected to the transaction until you remove it.

Tips for Managing Attachments

Attach documents when you enter or review the transaction so you do not have to search for them later.
Use clear, readable files.
Use descriptive filenames, especially when attaching multiple documents to one transaction.
For business transactions, consider what documentation you may need later for taxes, accounting, reimbursements, or an audit.
Attach only documents that provide useful information about the transaction.

Have a Receipt?

You can attach receipts, but use Expense Receipts in the left Navigation menu to upload a purchase receipt. Quicken scans details such as the merchant, date, and amount and can help you:

Find and attach the receipt to an existing transaction
Create a new transaction from the receipt
Review and categorize the transaction
Create splits when needed
Access the receipt later from the transaction or Expense Receipts

For more information, see Managing Expense Receipts.

The Bottom Line

Attachments help you keep the documentation behind a transaction with the transaction itself.

By connecting invoices, contracts, statements, warranties, and other supporting files to your financial records, you can spend less time searching for documents and have the information you need when questions arise.