[GNC] Split transaction problem

[NoobAlice]

You have four lines, not three lines as R Losey told you.

Remove the "Assets:Aktiva:Brukskonti:Paypal" line.  Arrow up to it, 
delete "Assets:Aktiva:Brukskonti:Paypal", tab to Debit 2 631,65, delete 
again, then tab to next line.  Keep tabbing until you get to the "To 
vendor" line and type over the amount to fix it.

When you have an amount in one column and type an amount in the other 
column on the same line, GnuCash will put in the difference between 
those two numbers.
So for the vendor line, you should have entered 2 608,37 in the left 
Debit side, then tabbed to the right Credit side and deleted the 23,28.

If you are using your credit card to pay for an expense and also a small 
fee, then you have an expense, not an asset.  If you bought an asset, 
then it is not an expense at the same time.

If you had a PayPal account that worked like a bank account, you might

Add money to it with a bank account:
DR PayPal bank account
CR Checking account

Spend money from it on an expense:
DR Expense thing you bought +100
DR Expense fee to use PayPal+ 20
CR PayPal bank account	    -120

Spend money from it on inventory:
DR Asset inventory	    +100
DR Expense fee to use PayPal+ 20
CR PayPal bank account	    -120

But if you are just using PayPal as a tool to pay an expense with your 
credit card, which I think is what you are doing here:
DR Expense thing you bought +100
DR Expense fee to use PayPal+ 20
CR Credit card		    -120


On 2025-12-19 09:09 AM, Øivind Nicolaysen wrote:
> Resending message from 14. December
> 
> Fra: Øivind Nicolaysen
> Sendt: søndag 14. desember 2025 14:49
> Til: 'R Losey' <rlosey at gmail.com>
> Emne: SV: [GNC] Split transaction problem
> 
> Dear Mr. Losey,
> 
> I am sorry for late answer, but I am returning to the problem described below.
> This time I have used slightly different amounts:
> The vendor shall be paid USD 250 (=NOK 2608,37)
> PayPal transaction fee is USD 2,23 (=NOK 23,28)
> Total drawn from my credit card is USD 252,23 (=NOK 2631,65)
> I have attached the transactions step-by-step and I hope you will find out what is wrong.
> 
> Kind regards
> Øivind Nicolaysen
> 
> Fra: R Losey <rlosey at gmail.com<mailto:rlosey at gmail.com>>
> Sendt: tirsdag 9. desember 2025 03:18
> Til: Øivind Nicolaysen <oivind44 at outlook.com<mailto:oivind44 at outlook.com>>; Gnucash Users <gnucash-user at gnucash.org<mailto:gnucash-user at gnucash.org>>
> Emne: Re: [GNC] Split transaction problem
> 
> You should really do "reply-all" so that everyone in the group can see the discussion (for two reasons: 1-someone else may be having a similar problem, and 2-if (when) I make an error, others can correct me).
> 
> Let me re-state the problem to make sure that I have it correctly:
> 
> So, you have purchased "Something" from a for $200; in addition, there is a $2.25 charge from Paypal. I'm going to pretend that Paypal is like a bank account for you, since I don't have any "balance" with Paypal.
> 
> I'm surprised that there are issues... as you say, the GnuCash split should look like
> 
> Paypal: decrease balance by $202.25
> Exponses:Fees   $2.25
> That should leave $200 for Expenses:Something
> 
> But you say that with just those two lines, there is no $200 balance remaining?
> 
> If you entered this transaction into a checking account, does it work properly? I'm not sure why you don't have an remaining balance of $200.
> 
> Perhaps a picture (if you can do it without privacy concerns) would help.
> 
> I've never run into anything like the problem you describe... What account type is your PayPal account? (right-click on the account, select "Edit Account" -- in the pop-up window, the Account Type is roughly halfway down). After noting the Account Type, you can then "Cancel" the pop-up window.
> 
> Note that I don't have any account for Paypal because everything I purchase via Paypal goes to a credit card, so I just make entries in the relevant credit card using a Description of "Paypal (Vendor)"
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, Dec 8, 2025 at 4:16 PM Øivind Nicolaysen <oivind44 at outlook.com<mailto:oivind44 at outlook.com>> wrote:
> Thanks for your answer,
> Yes, it should be very simple, as demonstrated by your grocery example, but my case is a little different
> A vendor has sent a payment request to my PayPal account of $200.
> I pay from my PayPal balance, and PayPal charge me $2.25 for the transaction.
> So, I decrease my PayPal balance by $202.25, on one side. On the other side, $2.25 is added to my fees expenses account. Then, I would expect to see $200 to be left for the relevant purchase account. But the $200 is never shown. Even if I put the $200 manually on the next line, the whole split becomes strange.
> I have tried many times and I and still unable to explain to myself what is going on.
> 
> By the way, I have similar grocery splits as you have shown, and it works nicely.
> 
> Looking forward to your comments
> 
> Øivind Nicolaysen
> 
> 
> 
> Fra: R Losey <rlosey at gmail.com<mailto:rlosey at gmail.com>>
> Sendt: mandag 8. desember 2025 18:52
> Til: Øivind Nicolaysen <oivind44 at outlook.com<mailto:oivind44 at outlook.com>>
> Kopi: gnucash-user at gnucash.org<mailto:gnucash-user at gnucash.org>
> Emne: Re: [GNC] Split transaction problem
> 
> First, I'll echo what the others have said: we need more information.
> 
> Normally splits are pretty easy; the debit and credit columns should sum to zero.
> 
> If I spend $100 at a department store, and $50 is clothing, $20 is groceries, and $30 is car maintenance items, then I increase my credit card balance by 100, and the splits go into Clothing, Groceries, and Auto Maintenance.
> 
> So, I'm guessing that something more complicated is involved here -- how about a split with different currencies? That may be a problem.
> 
> In any event, we certainly need more information.
> 
> 
> On Sun, Dec 7, 2025 at 8:48 PM Øivind Nicolaysen <oivind44 at outlook.com<mailto:oivind44 at outlook.com>> wrote:
> Hi Team,
> 
> I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to seek your assistance regarding a split transaction issue I'm currently experiencing. I've encountered a problem when trying to split a transaction, and I'm not sure how to resolve it.
> 
> When I attempt to split the transaction, it seems that the amounts do not distribute correctly, resulting in an imbalance. I've double-checked the entries, but I can't seem to pinpoint where the error might be. Has anyone else faced a similar issue, or could you offer any guidance on how to troubleshoot or correct this?
> 
> I appreciate your help and look forward to any advice or solutions you might have. Thank you in advance for your time and assistance.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Øivind Nicolaysen
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> --
> _________________________________
> Richard Losey
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> Micah 6:8
> 
> 
> --
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> Richard Losey
> rlosey at gmail.com<mailto:rlosey at gmail.com>
> Micah 6:8
> 
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