Applying Journal Entries Against Themselves

Hi there, @coopdigs2021.

Thanks for posting here. I can share steps to help you fix the balance of your customer. To start, let's first create a backup copy of your file. This is to ensure that you have original data that you can restore at any time in case of data loss.

Once done, let's now click the zero amount on the customer's balance to see a piece of detailed information. From there, you can either see payments or journal entry which was not applied to the invoice. You have 2 options you can perform.

First option:

1. You'll have to open the unpaid invoice.
2. Double-click to open.
3. At the bottom part, click the Apply credits button.
4. Select available credits.
5. Then, Done.

Second option:

1. Open the payment received.
2. Then, apply the payment to an open invoice.
3. Click Save and close when done.

For more info about the process, please see this article: Give your customer a credit or refund in QuickBooks Desktop for Windows.

Also, you can always seek self-help articles on our Community page to help you finish your QuickBooks tasks in no time.

Don't hesitate to post here again if you have further concerns about fixing your customer's balance. I'll be around to help. Keep safe.

HI thanks for the response - but neither of those options work. The ONLY transactions on this customer are GLs - see my attached screenshot - the GLs clear - but there's no other transactions to apply these too so that they are "cleared"

Thanks for getting back here, @coopdigs2021.

You can clear the balance by receiving a payment. If this does not work, you may open this article for the options in writing off customer balance: Write off customer and vendor balances.

To further guide you with this, I recommend reaching out to your accountant. They can give the best advice on the actions you can take. If you're not affiliated with one, you can use our Find an Accountant tool to look for a Pro-Advisor near your area. 

Also, before doing any changes to your account, it's recommended to create a backup copy first. This is to ensure you have the original data that you can restore at any time. 

Feel free to get back here if you have QuickBooks concerns. I'll be always around to help. Take care always. 

Although it's an older question, I might chime in here since I run into this once a couple of times a year. 

1. Open a payment window under the customer 

2. Click 'Apply Credits'

3. Make sure 'Process payment' is unchecked to the right of the top icons or else you won't be able to save it. Or just click cash or check so Intuit doesn't think it needs to process a card. 

- The two opposing Journal entries should now show '0' for an open balance. 

I hope that helps. 

Did you ever get an answer that worked? I am having the same issue.

Hi ,

I have been trying to figure this out all the way form 2020. I wanted to thank you .

But i think i did different method? I went to pay bills and it shows automatically credits applied. This is four i entered bill as JE and i entered credit or refund as JE.. it shows as outstanding bill and it shows the credit then you press cloes it out. Also want people to know who do JE to make sure the name of the supplier is there under name for both the payable entry and the credit supplier entry. Again 2 years later is better then never. 

Have great day!

Beebz 

Beeb, Thank you.

This was an eloquent solution.

Did you ever figure out an appropriate fix?  I am running into the exact same thing.  Thanks.

Did you ever figure out an appropriate fix?  I am running into the exact same thing.  Thanks.

Thanks for joining this thread, Dan226. Let me provide you with the steps to clear your journal entries in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT).

If the JEs are in the Accounts Receivable account, you'll need to receive the payments to clear them and if there are credits, you can apply them when applicable. You can follow the steps recommended by my colleague above.

However, it would be best to refer to your accountant since the necessary actions will depend on which accounts were affected by every JE transaction.

It would also greatly help if you could provide more details about the JEs that weren't cleared on the QBDTs Customer Center page.

Furthermore, you can refer to this article if you want to customize your reports in QBDT: Customize reports in QuickBooks Desktop

If you still have concerns about your journal entries, don't hesitate to comment in the post. I'm always here to help.

Rhoice:

Attached is a screenshot of the detail of one such customer.  All transactions for this customer are General Journal entries.  If I choose to receive payment for this customer, the "invoices" (in this case, just journal entries that debited the A/R account) do NOT appear on the Customer Payment screen, and therefore I cannot apply the credits.

As the title of this thread implies, I am trying to apply General Journal entries that debit the A/R account ("Invoices") to other General Journal entries that credit the same  A/R account ("receipts" or "credits").  I cannot simply delete the entries and recreate the activity as invoices and receipts; the activity is very old and the corresponding cash receipts have been reconciled in the cash account.

How can I apply the General Journal entries against each other to clear them from the A/R aging?