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Bob89
Level 1

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

 
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Best answer January 25, 2020

Best Answers
AddieC
QuickBooks Team

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Hi there, 


When you use the bank feed in QuickBooks Online, you'll be able to add or match your transactions to ensure QuickBooks Online matches what's in your real-life bank account. This is going to make your reconciliation process go much smoother. I'll explain the difference between the add and match options.

 

Match an existing transaction:

 

Match means QuickBooks matched the downloaded transaction with one you already entered. This links the two so there aren't any duplicates. All you have to do is make sure the match is correct.

 

1. Select the transaction to expand the view. 
2. Review the “Records found.” These transactions are ones you already entered in QuickBooks.
3. Select the link next to each record to get more details.
4. Review the “Deposit to” field on the forms. Your transaction in QuickBooks is already in the account listed.
5. When you’re done, select Match.
 

Add a new transaction:

 

Add means QuickBooks didn’t find a matching transaction. Instead of matching, QuickBooks will start a brand new transaction for you using the info from your bank.

   

1. Select the transaction to expand the view. 
2. Review the recommended account category. This is the account QuickBooks wants to categorize the transaction into. For example, you may see an expense for gas for your business vehicle. QuickBooks may suggest categorizing it under Travel Expenses. You can always change the category and put it in a different account depending on how you track this info.
3. Make changes to the payee and category before you select Add.
4. When everything looks good, select Add to record the transaction.
 

Here's more information about adding and matching transactions in QuickBooks Online: Download, match, and categorize your bank transactions in QuickBooks Online.

 

If you have any other questions, please reach out to our tech support team.

 

Have a nice day.

View solution in original post

Bob89
Level 1

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Thank you, Addie, this is very helpful.

 

The reason I ask is that I just completed my year end, and had been way behind on entering my expenses.  I have added in all the expenses, matched many of them, and have reconciled my accounts.  I just wanted to know that expenses that weren’t matched were ok to leave as it.  I assume from your answer, as long as everything reconciles, and there are no duplicate expenses, then there is no need to go back and try to match everything.

 

After many hours of getting caught up I have learned my lesson and will diligently keep up with expenses (and matching) in 2020!

 

Thank you!

View solution in original post

18 Comments 18
AddieC
QuickBooks Team

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Hi there, 


When you use the bank feed in QuickBooks Online, you'll be able to add or match your transactions to ensure QuickBooks Online matches what's in your real-life bank account. This is going to make your reconciliation process go much smoother. I'll explain the difference between the add and match options.

 

Match an existing transaction:

 

Match means QuickBooks matched the downloaded transaction with one you already entered. This links the two so there aren't any duplicates. All you have to do is make sure the match is correct.

 

1. Select the transaction to expand the view. 
2. Review the “Records found.” These transactions are ones you already entered in QuickBooks.
3. Select the link next to each record to get more details.
4. Review the “Deposit to” field on the forms. Your transaction in QuickBooks is already in the account listed.
5. When you’re done, select Match.
 

Add a new transaction:

 

Add means QuickBooks didn’t find a matching transaction. Instead of matching, QuickBooks will start a brand new transaction for you using the info from your bank.

   

1. Select the transaction to expand the view. 
2. Review the recommended account category. This is the account QuickBooks wants to categorize the transaction into. For example, you may see an expense for gas for your business vehicle. QuickBooks may suggest categorizing it under Travel Expenses. You can always change the category and put it in a different account depending on how you track this info.
3. Make changes to the payee and category before you select Add.
4. When everything looks good, select Add to record the transaction.
 

Here's more information about adding and matching transactions in QuickBooks Online: Download, match, and categorize your bank transactions in QuickBooks Online.

 

If you have any other questions, please reach out to our tech support team.

 

Have a nice day.

Bob89
Level 1

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Thank you, Addie, this is very helpful.

 

The reason I ask is that I just completed my year end, and had been way behind on entering my expenses.  I have added in all the expenses, matched many of them, and have reconciled my accounts.  I just wanted to know that expenses that weren’t matched were ok to leave as it.  I assume from your answer, as long as everything reconciles, and there are no duplicate expenses, then there is no need to go back and try to match everything.

 

After many hours of getting caught up I have learned my lesson and will diligently keep up with expenses (and matching) in 2020!

 

Thank you!

Shrrybaby3
Level 1

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Wouldn’t it save time to not input every transaction and just wait for it to pop up on my quickbooks online account.. then ADD it and not have to match anything? I am specifically thinking credit cards 

JamesM4
QuickBooks Team

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Hello Shrrybaby3. Thanks for chiming in on this thread. I'll be glad to assist you with your question so you can get back to doing what you love. To make sure we're both on the same page, could you elaborate more about what you're looking to accomplish using QuickBooks? 

Painter_Wmn
Level 1

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Further to what Shrrybaby3 asked, I'm wondering the same. Regretfully I've waited all year to reconcile our accounts. Now I'm struggling to get caught up. I've taken pictures of all our receipts and have posted most of them. I worry though that my recent update of bank and visa account has caused duplication. 

Tammy_H
QuickBooks Team

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Hi Painter_Wmn

 

Welcome to the QuickBooks Community. I know keeping accurate records is vital for your company, and duplicates would throw off your balances. I can point you in the right direction.

 

When you're adding your receipts, you're reviewing, editing, adding, or matching them to existing transactions. If you're connected to the bank, you'd need to match those transactions instead of adding them. If you were to add them, you'd end up with duplicate transactions. The quickest way to find out if you have duplicates is to go to your bank register and filter. I'll explain how to do this for you:

  1. Go to Accounting.
  2. Select Chart of Accounts.
  3. Find the bank account in question and click on Account History.
  4. You can click on the filter icon and adjust the dates to specific periods.
  5. Click on the header to sort the posts by dollar amount payment/deposit. This brings transactions that are the same side by side. If they're the same amount and the same date, you may want to check against your bank statement to see if it's a duplicate. You can then remove the extra transactions by clicking on them. If you're certain they are duplicates you can hit delete and save.

Important: Only delete transactions if you're absolutely certain they're a duplicate or error. If you aren't totally sure, talk to your accountant.

 

Here are a couple of articles that you may find helpful that go through using the receipts feature, how to unmatch transactions that were not matched correctly, and how to fix issues when trying to reconcile:

If you need any further assistance reach back out. Have an amazing day!

MaryPorter
Level 2

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Similar to what the original poster said, I can understand why I would create a bill for payment at a later date, but why would I create an expense? It is much less work to wait for that payment via my CC or Debit card to pop up in the bank feed and then when it does categorize it, select the supplier, add a memo etc. Is there something that I am missing?

thanks!

samartinez0728
Level 1

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

What happens when its a recurring charge? For example every month I make the same payment for bookkeeping, should I click match or not? 

Trish_T
QuickBooks Team

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Hi samartinez0728,

 

Thanks for reaching out in Community.  Welcome!  In addition to adding and matching transactions, QuickBooks Online has awesome feature for adding rules that automatically categorizes recurring transactions.  I'd be glad to assist!

 

When you have expenses that are paid on a monthly basis, you can add a bank rule.  All transactions will automatically be matched/categorized based on that rule to save time and speed up the review process.  Here's how to get started:

 

1. Create a bank rule by going to the Banking or Transactions menu and then select the Rules tab at the top of the page

2. Click on New Rule

3. Enter a Name in What do you want to call this rule?

4. In the Apply this to transactions that are ▼ dropdown, select Money in or Money out

5. Select the bank or credit card account from the In ▼

6. Add your rule conditions.  One rule can have up to 5 conditions.  

7. Set and include the following, then select + Add a condition.

8. Specify what the rule applies to, in the Conditions fields

9. Choose your settings for the rule, such as, Transaction type, Category, Tax, Tags and the Payee

10. Toggle On to Automatically confirm transactions this rule apples to

11.  When you're finished, Hit Save

That's it!  Any transactions that apply to this rule will be matched and you'll find them in the Categorized tab.

 

For future reference to set up bank rules in QuickBooks Online, click here.

 

Please don't hesitate to reach back out if you have any additional questions.  We're happy to help!

 

 

paul1831
Level 1

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Does matching change the original coding of my entered item or just link the transaction so it's not downloaded again from the bank?

Nick K
QuickBooks Team

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Hi paul1831.

 

I'd be happy to clarify what matching does in QuickBooks Online.

 

When you match a transaction in QuickBooks Online it links it to the invoice or bill and gets it ready to be reconciled. It doesn't change any aspect of the coding or what you put on the invoice itself.

 

If you have any questions let us know and we'd be happy to help.

Athiessen
Level 1

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

I have multiple receipts that QBO is trying to match to existing expenses, but they are new receipts. How do I fix this so I can enter these receipts as new expenses? Can I fix this on my mobile device or only on my laptop?

Trish_T
QuickBooks Team

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Hi Athiessen,

 

Thanks for joining us here.  QuickBooks Online enables you to upload your receipts to save valuable time.  However, I recommend contacting us outside of Community so we can work with you independently and ensure you're able to complete your QuickBooks goals as soon as possible!

 

Schedule a Callback or start a Chat: click (?) Help in the upper right in QuickBooks Online > enter "Contact support" > hit Contact Us > provide a brief summary of your situation > hit Let's Talk > choose Get a callback or Start a Chat.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Support hours are from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET.

 

If you have any other questions, let us know.  We're here for you!
 

 

seen92
Level 1

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Thank-you. This was succinct as always.

ja52
Level 1

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

After I "match", and I look over in Categorized, it still says "added". I can unmatch and match again and then it will say matched... but why is it not saying it the first time?

JamesM4
QuickBooks Team

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Hello ja52. Glad to have you chime in on this thread. To make sure I'm on the same page as you, could you elaborate more about the goal you'd like to accomplish in QuickBooks? 

ja52
Level 1

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

I have a Lowe's credit card. When I go to transactions, they are already listed in "categorized" because it says they automatically go under Lowe's as a Rule.. but they are tagged as "added" and not matched...

Trish_T
QuickBooks Team

What is the difference between “add” and “match” for expenses? Do I need to “match” all of my transactions or is “added to...” associated with an expense enough?

Hi ja52,

 

Thanks for getting back to us here.  Setting up bank rules is a valuable time saver!  However, what you've described is somewhat concerning.  If you haven't done so already, I recommend clearing cache on your browser, then login to QuickBooks Online to see if you get the same result.  If you experience the same outcome, please contact us for personal assistance in real-time.  A member of our Customer Care team would be happy to work with you directly and ensure your transactions are accurately matched, so you can reconcile your account with confidence.

 

Schedule a Callback or start a Chat: click (?) Help in the upper right in QuickBooks Online > enter "Contact support" > hit Contact Us > provide a brief summary of your situation > hit Let's Talk > choose Get a callback or Start a Chat.

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Support hours are from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET.

 

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to get back to us.  We'd be glad to assist!

 

 

 

 

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