Connect Xero or QuickBooks Online to Relay Invoices

If you use accounting software to manage customers and tax settings, you can connect QuickBooks Online (QBO) or Xero to Relay Invoices. This helps you reuse key accounting details in Relay and keep your books aligned with the invoices you create in Relay. 

What syncs with Relay Invoices

Depending on your setup, the integration can sync or import the following: 

• Contacts/customers (so you can select existing customers instead of re-entering them)
• Tax rates (so you can apply the same tax rates you use in accounting)
• Income/Revenue accounts (so invoice line items can be categorized to the right account in your accounting tool)
• Invoices you create in Relay will also appear in your accounting tool

Additional sync behavior:

• Tax rates created in Relay are immediately synced to QBO/Xero.
• Contacts created in Relay are synced to QBO/Xero once you create an invoice for that contact.
• When an invoice is marked paid in Relay, the invoice status is also updated in QBO/Xero.
• If the same contact exists in both Relay and QBO/Xero, Relay will automatically link them by display name when a sync happens.

Xero note: The Xero invoice integration is similar to the QBO integration, but it’s less complex. For example, Xero doesn’t require tax agencies, so taxes created on Relay can always be synced to Xero. 

Before you start

• Make sure you have the permissions in Relay to access Invoices and Integrations.
• Have your QuickBooks Online or Xero login ready.
• You may need the right permission level in your accounting software to authorize the connection.

How to connect QuickBooks Online or Xero

1. Sign in to your Relay account.
2. Go to the Invoices tab.
3. Click Sync Accounting Tool.
4. Choose QuickBooks Online or Xero.
5. Click Connect, then follow the prompts to sign in and authorize Relay.

Import and sync your customers (contacts)

After connecting, you can bring your customers or contacts into Relay so they’re available when you create invoices. If you already have customers set up in QBO or Xero, importing them into Relay can save time and help avoid duplicate customer records across systems. 

Good to know: If you create a new contact in Relay, it will sync to QBO/Xero after you create an invoice for that contact. 

Use income/revenue accounts on invoices

If you use accounts in your accounting software to track revenue, Relay can connect to them so you can categorize invoice line items correctly. 

What this means in practice:

• When you’re creating an invoice in Relay, you may be able to choose the income/revenue account that should be associated with the invoice (or with invoice line items, depending on your setup). 
• This helps your reporting stay consistent without needing manual recategorization later. 

If you don’t see the right account in Relay:

• Confirm you’re connected to the correct QBO company or Xero organization
• Check that the account exists in your accounting tool and is active
• Disconnect and reconnect the integration if needed

Import and use tax rates

If you use tax rates in your accounting software, you can import or sync them into Relay so you can apply them to invoice line items without rebuilding your tax setup. 

Good to know: Tax rates created in Relay are immediately synced to QBO/Xero. 

Xero note: Xero doesn’t require tax agencies, so taxes created on Relay can always be synced to Xero. 

Where your invoices show up

Invoices you create in Relay are intended to also appear in QuickBooks Online or Xero, so your accounting records reflect what you sent to your customer. 

Paid status: When an invoice is marked paid in Relay, the invoice status is also updated in QBO/Xero. 

Import and Send QuickBooks Online Invoice Drafts in Relay

If you’re connected QuickBooks Online from within your Relay account, invoices you create in QuickBooks will automatically sync to Relay—no extra steps required. You can then send the invoice through Relay, receive payments directly into your Relay account, and keep both platforms in sync.

Send a QuickBooks Online Invoice from Relay:

1. Create and save your invoice in QuickBooks Online.
2. In Relay, go to the Invoices tab—your invoice will appear there as a draft.
3. Under Actions, select Edit invoice.
4. Review the invoice details to make sure everything is correct.
5. Click Share to send the invoice to your customer.

What Syncs from QuickBooks:

• Essential Invoice details such as invoice number, line items, taxes/discounts, customer memo field and attachments automatically sync from a saved QuickBooks Online invoice into Relay.

What Doesn't Sync from QuickBooks:

• Payment Options: Payment options do NOT sync to Relay, and can instead be configured within your Relay Invoices Settings dashboard under QuickBooks Integration Preferences. 
• Edits to Existing Invoice: Edits made to initial invoice made in QuickBooks Online do not sync to Relay.
• Internal Memo: QuickBooks Online internal memo field.
• Sending Action or Paid Status: If an invoice is sent directly from QuickBooks Online, or later marked as Paid on QuickBooks Online, this will not sync to Relay. However, invoices sent from Relay and invoice statuses updated within Relay will sync back to your QuickBooks Online account.

After Payment:

Once your customer pays the invoice:

• Funds are deposited into your Relay Invoice Payout account.
• The payment status and invoice details automatically sync back to QuickBooks Online.

Troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions