What is the difference between cash flow report and itemized categories income and expense reports

Question

Where or how do I enter interest accrued to my 401(k) plan so that it does not show up in my cash flow report. Earned or accrued 401(k) interest eventually comes back to me as part of future RMD receipts.  If I enter the accrued interest in the category "interest" it shows up in the cash flow and itemized income expenditures reports. I am trying to verify my actual annual expenditures, but the cash flow, account balances and expenditures report do not give same results. What am I doing wrong? Part of the problem is that almost all of my income is deposited directly to my checking account and then through internal transfers goes to other accounts from which expenditure debits are made.

Tom Young · Accepted Answer

Pretty much the whole difference comes down the Accounts selected that "feed" transactions to reports.  If you're seeing activity inside the 401(k) Account showing up on the Cash Flow report that tells me that the 401(k) Account has a tick mark next to it under the Accounts tab you access when you customize the Cash Flow report.Now, if you interact directly between your checking Account and the 401(k) Account - say you start taking distributions from the 401(k) Account - you can further customize the Cash Flow report to recognize that transfer as a ersatz "Category" that would show up as a form of "income" or "cash in" transaction.  To do that you'd select the 401(k) Account as a "Category" by ticking it under the Categories tab.Play around with the reporting a bit and you'll figure it out.