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Connect to Xero

Linking Kinabase to your Xero organisation


Connect Kinabase to Xero to link records

to Xero contacts and items, create draft invoices and bills, and keep your tax codes and chart of accounts in sync.


Before You Start

You will need:

Kinabase Max Plan

Accounting integrations are part of the Max plan. The settings page will prompt you to upgrade if your organisation is on a lower plan.

System Administrator access in Kinabase

Only System Administrators can connect, disconnect, or switch the active accounting integration.

A Xero login with access to your organisation

You'll sign in to Xero during the OAuth flow. If your Xero login has access to more than one organisation, Kinabase will ask which one to link.

Standard or Advisor user role in Xero

Read-Only Xero users cannot authorise the connection. Kinabase requests permission to read and write contacts, transactions, and settings.


Connect Xero

  1. Click your name in the bottom-left corner of Kinabase and select Settings.
  2. Navigate to Integrations → Accounting Integration.
  3. Find Xero in the list of providers and click Connect.
  4. You will be redirected to Xero to sign in and authorise Kinabase.
  5. Review the access Kinabase is requesting (contacts, transactions, accounting settings, offline access) and click Allow access.
  6. Xero will redirect you back to Kinabase. A confirmation alert reads "Successfully connected to Xero".

If your Xero login has access to more than one organisation, a Select Xero Organisation dialog will open. Choose the organisation you want to link to Kinabase and click Connect to Selected Organisation.

After connecting, Kinabase automatically pulls your Tax Codes and Chart of Accounts from Xero.


Reference Data Synced From Xero

When you connect Xero, Kinabase populates two system collections that are available across your organisation:

Tax Codes

Each Xero tax rate (e.g. "20% (VAT on Income)", "Zero Rated Expenses") is imported with its rate, type (Output, Input, or Both), and status.

Chart Of Accounts (Ledger Codes)

Each Xero account is imported with its code, account type (Bank, Current, Fixed, Revenue, Expense, etc.), and class (Asset, Liability, Equity, Revenue, Expense).

You can re-sync this reference data at any time from the three-dot menu on the Xero row in Settings → Integrations → Accounting Integration by clicking Sync Reference Data.

When the integration is disconnected, the synced tax codes and ledger codes are archived (kept for history) but no longer offered in active dropdowns.


Once Xero is connected, the Accounting pane appears in each collection's configuration. Use it to choose what records

in that collection represent in Xero:

Customers & Suppliers

Each record can be linked to a Xero contact. Outstanding receivables and payables appear in the record details panel.

Products & Services

Each record can be linked to a Xero item. Sales and purchase pricing appear in the record details panel.

Invoices

Records track invoices created from their line items, including coverage and payment status.

Bills

Records track bills created from their line items, including coverage and payment status.

For a full walkthrough, see our guide on configuring collections for accounting.


Use Xero from your Record

Open any record in a collection that has Xero linking enabled. A Xero card appears in the record details panel, on the right, with these controls:

  1. Link - search for an existing Xero contact, item, invoice, or bill, or create a new one in Xero from the record.
  2. Sync (refresh icon) - pull the latest data from Xero. A tooltip shows when it last synced.
  3. Open in Xero (external link icon) - open the linked Xero record in a new tab.
  4. Unlink - remove the connection. The record remains in Xero; only the link is removed.

Creating an Invoice or Bill

On collections configured for Invoices or Bills, a Create Invoice (or Create Bill) button is available. The modal lets you:

  • Tick the line items to include.
  • Adjust quantities (where not driven by a mapped field).
  • Override the tax code and ledger code for each line.
  • See per-line totals and the overall total.

Click Create Invoice (or Create Bill) to push the transaction to Xero. Invoices and bills are created as Draft in Xero, so you can review and approve them there.


Switching Organisation

If you manage multiple Xero organisations, you can switch which one Kinabase is connected to without disconnecting first:

  1. Go to Settings → Integrations → Accounting Integration.
  2. Open the three-dot menu on the Xero row.
  3. Click Change Organisation.
  4. Choose a different organisation in the dialog and confirm.

Reference data (Tax Codes, Chart of Accounts) is re-synced from the new organisation. Existing links to contacts, items, invoices, and bills from the old organisation will no longer resolve, so use this with care.


Disconnecting Xero

  1. Go to Settings → Integrations → Accounting Integration.
  2. Open the three-dot menu on the Xero row.
  3. Click Disconnect and confirm.

Kinabase stops syncing immediately. Records that were linked to Xero contacts, items, invoices, or bills keep their last-known data for reference, but Sync and Create actions will no longer be available. Tax Codes and Ledger Codes are archived.

Connecting QuickBooks while Xero is connected will disconnect Xero automatically. Kinabase will warn you with a Switch Accounting Provider dialog first.


Xero-Specific Notes

Things to know about Xero

Items use the SKU code on invoice lines

When Kinabase creates an invoice or bill in Xero, line items reference the Xero item's Code (SKU), not its internal ID. Items without a code can still be linked but won't be used on transaction lines.

Multi-organisation support

Xero accounts with access to multiple organisations are fully supported. Use Change Organisation to switch without going through OAuth again.

Draft transactions

Invoices and bills created from Kinabase land in Xero as Draft. Approve them in Xero (or via Xero's own automation) to send them to customers or post them to the ledger.

Status mapping

Xero statuses map into Kinabase as Draft, Submitted, Approved (Authorised), Paid, Void, or Deleted.


Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions

Needs setup badge after connecting

This means Kinabase found multiple Xero organisations on your login but hasn't been told which one to link. Click the Xero row and choose Connect to Selected Organisation.

Authorisation refused

Your Xero user must have a Standard or Advisor role in the organisation to authorise the connection. Read-Only users will be blocked by Xero.

Invoice creation fails for items without a code

Xero requires every line item that references a product to have a Code (SKU). Add a Code to the item in Xero and re-sync, or send the line as a description-only line instead.

Connection error after token expiry

If Kinabase shows an Error badge for Xero, open the integration row to see the message. Disconnect and reconnect to re-authorise.


Connecting your Kinabase to your accounting system helps streamline your day to day activities and align your operations and financial processes.

For more help contact your System Admin or our Support Team.

See also: Connect to QuickBooks | Configuring collections for accounting.