Rebate or refund not income what can be done

Easily. Post it to the expense account, not an income account.

I have an income category for REBATES, and can simply exclude it from income/expense reports if I truely don't care to see it as 'income'. But it sure is a DEPOSIT.

I just use the expense category for the item that was purchased.

For example, if I bought a DVD player, I would record the purchase as an expense in the Home:appliances category. When I receive the rebate for the item and deposit it, I record the deposit in the Home:appliances category. My net cost for the item is then reflected correctly.

I have an asset account that is for rebates only. So when I get an item that includes a rebate I Split the purchase:

If the item is $150 with a $50 rabate Split: Item $100 [Rebates] $50.

Then when I actually receive the rebate, I do an Xfer from [Rebates] to my checking account.

I like this method because I can use that [Rebates] account to track how many rebates I am expecting. If i Look in that account and see an rebate that hasn't been received for 6-8 week, I know it's time to take action.