Accounting
Financial Management
Sage Intacct Multi-Entity Setup: Entities, Intercompany Rules and Consolidation
Last updated: October 8, 2026 · Independent guide · We do not sell rankings or coverage.
A Sage Intacct multi entity setup has four layers: entities under a shared top level, a shared chart of accounts, inter-entity account mappings that post due-to and due-from entries automatically, and consolidation books that eliminate those balances and translate currencies. Configure them in that order, because entity IDs, base currencies and several consolidation book settings cannot be changed once transactions or consolidations exist.
How we researched this
We took every step and menu path from the Sage Intacct help center (US English), whose pages showed a last-modified date of October 1, 2026, and checked them on October 8, 2026. The pages that rank for this topic are mostly Sage partners describing benefits, so we concentrated on setup order and the settings Sage says cannot be reversed. We did not test in a live tenant, so labels may vary slightly by interface version.
Before you start
- Subscription. A multi-entity shared company. Sage says adding an entity “can incur an extra charge” (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026), and its product page lists no prices and offers pricing only on request (Sage, no date shown).
- Consolidation edition. Domestic Consolidation for wholly owned entities in one base currency, Global Consolidation for multiple base currencies (additional fees), and Advanced Ownership Consolidation for multi-level or partially owned structures (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026).
- Role. A business user with admin privileges, Entities and Inter-entity account mapping permissions, and Manage books and Run consolidations permissions for the consolidation steps.
For product selection rather than setup, see our guide to ERP for multi-entity operations and our Sage Intacct profile.
Step 1: Work from Sage’s checklist
Sage’s multi-entity shared installation checklist recommends this order: configure the top-level company, create entities, set application preferences, build shared lists such as the chart of accounts and journals, load beginning balances by entity, then set up vendors and customers (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026). It marks the chart of accounts and journals as common objects and locations as entity objects. Use it as your project plan.
Step 2: Turn on currencies first
If any entity will operate outside USD, go to Company > Admin > Subscriptions, select General Ledger, then Configure, and select Enable multi-currency subscription, then set a rounding account. Sage states that enabling multi-currency is permanent (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026).
Then open Company > Admin > Subscriptions, select Multi-Entity Management and Configure, and select Enable multiple base currencies (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026). You do not need this just to transact in foreign currencies; a USD entity can invoice in EUR with multi-currency enabled and the Accounts Receivable foreign currency option selected.
Step 3: Create the entities
Go to Company > Setup > Configuration and select Add next to Entities (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026). For each entity:
- Enter an ID and name. The ID is permanent; Sage suggests E plus a number (E100, E200).
- Enter the Federal ID, Operating country and state tax ID.
- Select the Base currency in the Accounting section. It can be set only on a new entity or one with no transactions.
In Multi-Entity Management, select Issue a separate 1099 per entity if each entity should file its own 1099s under its own tax ID.
Step 4: Set up shared and entity-specific accounts
Build the chart of accounts at the top level so every entity uses the same numbers. Sage advises defining master data at the top level and creating records inside an entity only when necessary (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026). A GL account created inside an entity is private to it and shows at the top level only with Include private selected (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026). Keep these to genuine local needs such as a statutory account, because they complicate consolidated reports.
Shared GL accounts cannot be restricted by entity; restrictions apply to customers, vendors, checking and savings accounts. Select them under Entity restrictions in Multi-Entity Management, then use the Restrictions tab on each bank account so no entity pays from another entity’s account.
Create the accounts later steps need now: inter-entity receivable and payable accounts, a cumulative translation adjustment (CTA) account and an elimination adjustment account. Sage sets up CTA as a balance sheet, credit-normal, non-closing equity account (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026).
Step 5: Configure inter-entity balancing
On the Multi-Entity Management page (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026):
- Select Enable inter-entity transactions so entries spanning entities get due-to and due-from lines automatically. Balancing is by entity only. The option is incompatible with Enable journal entry auto-balancing in General Ledger.
- Leave Manually balance all subledger transactions cleared so bills, invoices and payments also generate inter-entity entries.
- Select an IET credits journal for credits applied without a payment record.
If you restrict transactions to the entity level, Sage notes that Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable can no longer enter automated inter-entity transactions.
Step 6: Choose a mapping plan and map accounts
Select Basic or Advanced under Inter-entity account mapping on the same page (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026), then maintain mappings at Company > Setup > Configuration > Inter-entity account settings > Inter-entity account mapping (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026).
| Plan | Accounts | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (default) | One receivable (IER) and one payable (IEP) per entity | Settling balances in total |
| Advanced | Up to four per entity pair, reusable | Settling each pair separately, such as intercompany loans |
For many entities, export the CSV template from the mapping page, which lists every entity pair, fill in accounts and import it. Intacct does not support asymmetric pairs or inactive entities (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026), and an entity with no mapped accounts is blocked from inter-entity transactions (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026).
Test the due-to and due-from entries
Intacct reads the source entity on the header, nets its lines, and gives it a due-from if the net is a credit, posting to the mapped accounts for each pair (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026). As an illustration, E100 pays $3,000 of rent and charges $1,500 each to E200 and E300:
| Entity and account (illustration) | Debit | Credit | Entered by |
|---|---|---|---|
| E100 Cash | $3,000 | You | |
| E200 Rent expense | $1,500 | You | |
| E300 Rent expense | $1,500 | You | |
| E100 Inter-entity receivable | $3,000 | Intacct | |
| E200 Inter-entity payable | $1,500 | Intacct | |
| E300 Inter-entity payable | $1,500 | Intacct |
Run a trial balance by entity to confirm each one balances, then reverse the test entry.
Step 7: Create the elimination entity
Each consolidation book needs an elimination entity to hold eliminations and currency translation adjustments. Add an entity at Company > Setup > Configuration, name it clearly (for example, ELIM-USD) and select Enable as the elimination entity (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026). The designation is permanent, and you need one per book currency (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026). Give consolidation users access on the User entities tab under Company > Users.
Step 8: Build the consolidation book
Go to Consolidation > Setup and select Add next to Books (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026), then complete the tabs:
- Book information. The name cannot be changed later. Select the book currency and translation methods; Sage calls Ending Spot Rate common for balance sheet accounts and Weighted Average Rate common for income statement accounts. Select CTA accounts for net income and net assets; Sage recommends one account for both (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026).
- Entities to consolidate. Select the entities and elimination entity, select Enable inter-entity auto-elimination, and pick the Elimination adjustment account (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026).
- Journals. Review journal symbols; they lock after the first run (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026).
- Accounts to override. Set non-monetary accounts such as fixed assets, inventory, goodwill and equity to the historical rate (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026).
- Elimination accounts. Mapped IER and IEP accounts eliminate by default. Add intercompany loan, interest, sales and cost accounts here (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026).
Sage says Intacct translates in accordance with FASB Statement No. 52 (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026). When a translated receivable and payable no longer match, the difference posts to CTA in the elimination entity (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026). Our article on multi-currency intercompany accounting covers the accounting behind those differences.
Step 9: Run the first consolidation
Go to Consolidation > All > Run consolidation, select the book, period and entities (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026). With auto-elimination on, all entities consolidate together. Start one month before your first reported month so it has an opening balance, and re-run during close to pick up late entries.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Wrong base currency. Once an entity has transactions, create a new entity and inactivate the old one.
- Book built without auto-elimination. After a run you cannot switch to auto-elimination, remove entities or change translation methods. Sage’s fix is a new book; deleting the old one deletes its consolidation data.
- Switching mapping plans mid-year. Basic and Advanced are mutually exclusive and setup does not carry over. Export to CSV first and switch at the start of a period.
- Intercompany sales left on the books. Add revenue and cost accounts on the Elimination accounts tab.
- Unbalanced departments or projects. Only the Location dimension flows to generated inter-entity lines, so balance other dimensions manually.
Limitations of the native feature
Global Consolidation handles flat, wholly owned structures; partial ownership and multi-level parents need the separate Advanced Ownership Consolidation subscription. The book information tab offers only the Intacct Daily Rate, sourced from OANDA, though historical-rate accounts can use custom tables. Several book settings lock after the first run, so errors mean a rebuild. Sage says automatic elimination covers only the mapped inter-entity receivable and payable accounts and any other accounts you designate (Sage Intacct, October 1, 2026).
When companies add a third-party tool
Most groups run entities, intercompany and consolidation natively and add tools around the close. FloQast, which sells a Sage Intacct integration, builds reconciliations that tie to Intacct GL balances and tracks close tasks (FloQast, no date shown), though its page does not mention intercompany matching. Groups with frequent ownership changes sometimes add a dedicated consolidation product; compare it with Advanced Ownership Consolidation first.
Related guides
- Sage Intacct Dimensions: Setup and Design Guide (2026)
- Consolidation Worksheet Template With NCI and Eliminations
- Due To and Due From Accounts: Entries and Tie-Out
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Consolidation subscription to run multiple entities in Sage Intacct?
No. Entities and automatic inter-entity entries work without one. Automatic eliminations and consolidation books require Domestic, Global or Advanced Ownership Consolidation, and currency translation requires Global or Advanced Ownership Consolidation.
Should I use the Basic or Advanced inter-entity mapping plan?
Use Basic if you settle intercompany balances in total. Use Advanced if you settle between specific pairs, such as loans between two subsidiaries. Switching later means rebuilding the mapping, so decide during implementation.
Can I change an entity’s base currency in Sage Intacct?
Only before the entity has transactions. After that, the usual fix is a new entity with the correct currency.
How many elimination entities do I need?
One per consolidation book currency. Three books that all report in USD can share one elimination entity.
Which exchange rates does Intacct use for consolidation?
Global Consolidation uses the Intacct Daily Rate from OANDA, with ending spot or weighted average rates by account type and historical-rate overrides for chosen accounts.
Sources
- Sage Intacct, Multi-entity company overview, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Multi-entity shared installation checklist, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Manage multiple entities (Multi-Entity Management configuration), October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Entities, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Set up multiple currencies, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Private and restricted data in multi-entity companies, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Overview of inter-entity transactions, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Inter-entity account mapping plans, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Map inter-entity accounts, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Centralized inter-entity account setup FAQs, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, About the Consolidation subscriptions, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Elimination entities (Global Consolidation), October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Book setup (Global Consolidation), October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Book information (Global Consolidation), October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Entities to consolidate (Global Consolidation), October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Journals (Global Consolidation), October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Accounts to override, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Elimination accounts (Global Consolidation), October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Run a consolidation, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Cumulative Translation Adjustment accounts and translation rate methods, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Global Consolidation exchange rate translation methods, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage Intacct, Inter-entity auto-eliminations in Consolidation, October 1, 2026. intacct.com
- Sage, Sage Intacct multi-entity product page (sells the product), no date shown. sage.com
- FloQast, Sage Intacct integration (sells the product), no date shown. floqast.com
Sherman Hsieh
Independent analysis of enterprise software — ERP, CRM and more
