QuickBooks Online Progress Invoicing: Bill Projects in Stages
Learn how QuickBooks Online progress invoicing splits one estimate into several invoices for project billing, and see what Philippine businesses should verify for VAT, BIR invoice details and e-invoicing before using it for staged client milestone payments.
Trust Badge Row:
- Turn One Estimate Into Staged Invoices
- Bill by Percentage or Custom Amount
- Track Billed and Remaining Project Balances
- Confirm VAT and BIR Invoice Details
- Check E-Invoicing Readiness Before Setup
How Staged Billing Works Inside QuickBooks Online
Progress invoicing in QuickBooks Online lets a business split one approved estimate into several invoices instead of billing the full amount at once. After the feature is turned on in the sales settings, each invoice is created from the estimate, so the original quote stays linked to everything billed against it until the job is fully invoiced.
This suits contractors, consultants, agencies and other firms that collect payment as work moves forward. Philippine businesses should also confirm how each staged invoice meets VAT and BIR invoice requirements. Advintek Global can help you review compliance workflows through the AassureComply ecosystem. Verify current QuickBooks plans, features and local support with Intuit.
What You Can Control When Creating Each Invoice
Estimate First
Create and accept an estimate before any staged invoice is raised.
Full Amount Option
Invoice the entire estimate in one go when work is complete.
Percentage Option
Bill the same percentage of every line on the estimate.
Custom Amounts
Enter a specific amount or percentage for each estimate line.
Remaining Balance
See what has been billed and what is still open on the estimate.
Estimate Status
Watch the estimate change status as billing reaches the full total.
When Should You Use Progress Billing?
- Construction and renovation jobs with several work phases.
- Consulting engagements paid by milestone or deliverable.
- Creative and marketing projects billed in instalments.
- Installation work with separate supply and labor stages.
- Long contracts where cash flow needs steady inflows.
- Custom orders that need a deposit before production.
- Service jobs where clients approve work stage by stage.
Philippine VAT and BIR Points for Staged Invoices
Each staged invoice is still an invoice for tax purposes. Under the Ease of Paying Taxes Act, the invoice is the principal sales document for covered transactions, so check that every invoice shows the required details and classifies VATable, zero-rated and VAT-exempt amounts correctly. Ask your accountant how partial billings should be recorded for VAT.
Businesses using computerized accounting systems or invoicing software may fall under BIR e-invoicing, with a December 31, 2026 compliance date for covered taxpayers. Ask how your setup will produce structured invoices, handle the BIR permit and keep records, and confirm requirements with the BIR.
Key Checks Before Issuing Your First Progress Invoice
Feature Switch
Confirm progress invoicing is turned on in your sales settings.
Estimate Accuracy
Review lines, quantities and tax treatment before the client accepts.
Billing Schedule
Agree the stages, percentages and due dates with your client.
Plan Availability
Check that your QuickBooks plan and region include this feature.
Who Benefits from Progress Invoicing
Staged billing helps both the team doing the work and the team tracking the money, because the estimate and each invoice stay connected.
For Project-Based Business Owners
- Collect payment as work advances rather than at the end.
- Reduce the risk of carrying project costs for months.
- Show clients a clear link between estimate and invoices.
For Bookkeepers and Finance Staff
- Track how much of each estimate remains to be billed.
- Reconcile staged invoices and payments against the original quote.
- Keep VAT and invoice records organized for review.
Plan Your Staged Billing Process with Confidence
Map your project stages, tax treatment and invoice approvals, then test a sample estimate with two or three staged invoices before using it with clients. Speak with Advintek Global to review VAT, BIR and e-invoicing workflows, and compare AassureBooks with your current tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is progress invoicing in QuickBooks Online?
It is a feature that lets you split a single estimate into several invoices. You can request partial payments as a project moves forward, while the original estimate keeps track of what has been billed.
2. Do I need an estimate to use progress invoicing?
Yes. Progress invoices are created from an existing estimate. Prepare the estimate, agree it with your client and mark it accepted before you begin raising staged invoices.
3. How do I turn on progress invoicing?
Open your QuickBooks Online settings, go to the sales preferences and switch on the progress invoicing option. Menu names can change, so follow Intuit’s current help guide for your region.
4. Can I bill a percentage or a custom amount?
Yes. When you create an invoice from the estimate, you can bill the full estimate, a percentage of every line, or a custom amount or percentage for each line.
5. Which QuickBooks Online plans include progress invoicing?
Sources differ on plan availability by region and over time. Check Intuit’s current plan details for the Philippines, or ask a QuickBooks representative, before relying on the feature.
6. How do I know how much is left to invoice?
QuickBooks shows the billed and remaining amounts on the estimate and updates its status as invoices are created. Review the estimate list regularly so your billing and project progress stay in step.
7. Are staged invoices valid for VAT and BIR purposes?
Each invoice must still meet BIR content and VAT rules. Ask your accountant how to record partial billings, and confirm invoice requirements with the BIR rather than assuming the software covers them.
8. Will BIR e-invoicing affect staged billing?
It may. Covered taxpayers must issue structured e-invoices by December 31, 2026. Ask whether your invoicing setup can produce the required data, work with the permit process and keep the records the BIR expects.
9. What are the limits of progress invoicing?
Users have shared that its options are simpler than some desktop billing tools. Test your own scenario, including how invoices display, before committing to a client-facing billing process.
10. How can Advintek Global help with project billing and compliance?
Advintek Global can help Philippine businesses review compliance requirements, map invoicing and VAT workflows, and compare options such as AassureBooks through the AassureComply ecosystem. Confirm final features and licensing with each software provider.
