[GNC] I'm getting started in Gnucash and want to list each item that I buy from one merchant

[Adrien Monteleone]

You can certainly do so. The exact work flow can vary depending on your 
precise needs.

I don't often have very long transactions (30 or more items) but it does 
happen a few times a year. I frequently have transactions with at least 
5 or so 'splits'.

I'd recommend experimenting with either View > Transaction Journal (my 
preference) or View > Auto Split. That way, if most of your transactions 
need to show individual line item info, you can see it when you enter 
the transaction (Auto Split) or always see that level of detail for all 
transactions. (Transaction Journal) The default view will be least 
helpful to you.

You will not likely be able to easily auto-add tax per line, but can 
certainly put in tax lines manually. (such as one line for food, one for 
medicine, etc.) GnuCash can help with the math here. I put the rate and 
amount in the memo section and then type in the formula in the debit 
column. (e.g., $15.99 * .0845) GnuCash will replace your formula with 
the result showing what the calculated tax amounts to.

Another (but a bit more complicated) option is to put all such 
transactions into 'Vendor Bills' which can do taxes per line, exclusive 
or inclusive of price. But this requires much more careful setup and may 
or may not work for your particular situation.

Most importantly, if you need reporting at all on this detail, it has to 
be entered somehow into GnuCash. Do not just aggregate and enter the 
result. (don't consolidate line items. Enter each one separately as its 
own split, but do enter them in the same transaction if that is how they 
occurred.)

Regards,
Adrien

On 3/9/24 5:40 PM, W. Neal Lewis wrote:
> I would like to use Gnucash to keep track of the costs and information 
> of each of the things that I buy from a merchant, such as Kroger, Home 
> Depot, etc.
> 
> There can be 30 to more items on one transaction.
> 
> The items can be for different uses, such as food, lumber, computers, etc.
> 
> There can be multiple tax rates, depending on the separate tax rates for 
> food, prescriptions, hardware, etc.
> 
> This information is needed for use at tax time, since I have a small 
> business and need to break things out accordingly.
> 
> Is Gnucash the right program to use for these needs?