E-commerce

How to Record a Google Shopping or Performance Max Campaign Invoice

Expensing a monthly Google Ads invoice for product listing and performance campaigns.

Account NameTypeDebit ($)Credit ($)
Marketing Expense — Google AdsExpense (+)3,500.00-
Accounts Payable / Credit CardLiability (+)-3,500.00

💡 Accountant's Note

Pay-per-click and shopping campaign costs are expensed in the month the ads ran. Tracking Google Ads spend separately from social media spend enables channel-level ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) analysis.

Practitioner & Systems Framework

💻 ERP Architecture

Google Ads invoices are issued monthly (or when the account threshold is reached for auto-billing accounts). Map Google Ads charges to the correct cost center and campaign type (Shopping, Performance Max, Search) to enable channel-level ROAS analysis. For VAT purposes in Jordan, apply the reverse charge mechanism on Google Ads invoices from a foreign entity.

⚠️ Audit Flags

Google Ads spend should be matched to campaign delivery data: (1) Invoice amount reconciled to Google Ads account billing summary, (2) Reverse charge VAT self-assessed on the foreign service invoice, (3) If accruing for ads delivered but not yet invoiced at period-end, use the Google Ads account's cost report as the accrual basis.

📄 Required Documentation

Google Ads invoice, Google Ads account billing summary (campaign-level spend), credit card statement or payment confirmation, VAT reverse charge self-assessment record, and monthly ROAS report by campaign type.

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Expert Analysis by Qusai Ahmad

General Accountant Supervisor & IFRS Specialist

Specialized in SAP GUI automation and Middle Eastern tax compliance. Building digital tools for the next generation of finance leaders.

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