> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://harnesscalendar.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Categories

> Categories are labels that sort your charges and expenses onto your tax form.

![The Expenses categories list: the studio's own Zoom, Piano tuning, and Reeds on their tax lines with the dates they were added, above Harness's built-in categories marked System.](https://mintcdn.com/harnesscalendar/7YYb9Ad2HRk2nyZL/images/categories/categories-list-light.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=7YYb9Ad2HRk2nyZL\&q=85\&s=553b3c0007e9ce5dc0fc2ad5c1fb1ca6)

Every charge and expense can carry a category, and each category sits on one line of Schedule C, the IRS form for self-employed income. That's how your [Profit & Loss](/docs/reports.md#profit-and-loss) reads line by line at tax time. Income and expenses both use categories, on every plan.

## Built-in categories

Harness comes with a set of categories, marked **System**, that follow the Schedule C lines. They're the same for every studio, so you can't rename or remove them. A few aren't deductible and get their own section of your Profit & Loss. Anything Harness records on its own, like lesson charges and [Stripe fees](/docs/expenses.md#fees-harness-records), is already sorted.

## Add your own

Add a category when the built-in ones don't say it your way, like Reeds or Zoom. In **Settings → Categories**, open the **Expenses** or **Income** tab, click **+**, and give it a name and a tax line. You can also make one as you go: in any category list, like the one on a new [expense](/docs/expenses.md) or [charge](/docs/charges.md), type a name that isn't there yet and Harness offers to create it. A new expense category asks which tax line it goes on.

## No category

A category is optional, so you can save a charge or expense now and sort it later. Entries without one read **No category** in [Transactions](/docs/transactions.md) and get their own **No category** row on your Profit & Loss, still counted in your totals. Click that row to see them.

To sort an entry, click it in **Finances → Transactions** and pick a **Category**. You can change an entry's category any time, even on a charge that's on a sent invoice. Lines you type on an [invoice](/docs/invoices.md#create-and-send) start at **No category** too; pick one under the line. [Recurring charges](/docs/recurring-charges.md) are the exception: every fee needs a category.

## Change a category

Click one of your own categories to change its name, description, or tax line. A new tax line moves all of its entries in every report, past years included, so Harness shows what will move before you confirm.

## Archive, merge, or delete

When you stop using one of your own categories, choose what happens to it from its **⋯** menu.

* **Archive** hides it from category lists, but everything on it keeps it, including recurring charges that bill under it. **Show archived** at the bottom of the list shows it again, and **Restore** brings it back.
* **Merge into** moves everything on it to another category, yours or a built-in one, then removes it. It can't be undone.
* **Delete** removes a category no entry or recurring charge uses. If a billing rule is set to it, Harness lists those rules, and they're removed with it.

## FAQ

> **Why can't I rename or delete Supplies?**
>
> Supplies is one of Harness's [built-in categories](#built-in-categories), which are locked. Add your own with the name you want, or merge one of yours into Supplies.

> **Why is there no Delete on my category?**
>
> **Delete** only shows when no entry or recurring charge uses the category. [Archive or merge it](#archive-merge-or-delete) instead.

> **Why is Harness asking about past entries?**
>
> The change would alter what you deducted in an earlier year, so tax reports you've already used or filed may no longer match. Go back to leave those years as they are.

> **Why can't I create Reeds? It's not in the list.**
>
> You have an archived category called Reeds, and Harness won't make a second one with the same name. Restore it from **Show archived** in **Settings → Categories**.


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