cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
gorejs
Level 2

eCheck cleared, then bank stopped payment

QB Desktop Pro Plus 2024: A little over 3 months ago, I paid a vendor with a paper eCheck, which the bank clears as soon as they mail out the check. Unfortunately, the vendor never cashed the check, so after 90 days, the bank stopped payment on the eCheck and refunded the amount to our checking account. The check is already cleared and reconciled in QB, but now I have to void that cleared, reconciled check and record the refund deposit. How do I do this without screwing up my past reports and next reconciliation, please?

3 Comments 3
MirriamM
Moderator

eCheck cleared, then bank stopped payment

I can assist you with your reconciliation issue, gorejs. 

 

In case the check was not cashed out by the payee, you can create a journal entry to void it. Here's what you need to do:

 

  1. Select Make General Journal Entries. from the Company menu.
  2. Choose your bank in the Account column.
  3. Enter the amount under the Debit section.
  4. Pick the account you used to enter the refund and put in the amount in the Credit section. 

 

Alternatively, you can create a bank deposit to move the amount back to your account. This will ensure that the funds are not lost and the transaction gets cleared out during reconciliation.

 

However, before performing the above steps, it's advisable to consult your accountant for advice to ensure that this won't have implications on the previously reconciled period.

 

If you encounter any trouble while reconciling, I suggest visiting this article: Fix issues when you're reconciling in QuickBooks Desktop. It provides a helpful guide on how to address such issues. Furthermore, it features a section that showcases different report options to help you identify the root cause of the problem and how to resolve it.

 

If you have other reconciliation concerns or questions about managing transactions in Qu8ickBooks Desktop (QBDT), please don't hesitate to comment below. I'm always ready to help, gorejs.

gorejs
Level 2

eCheck cleared, then bank stopped payment

Thank you for these instructions. Will this actually void the original check so that the associated invoice will show as unpaid, please? I still have to pay that pesky invoice.

Rea_M
Moderator

eCheck cleared, then bank stopped payment

Creating a journal entry won't actually void the original check, gorejs. I'll provide you with step-by-step instructions on how you can show the associated invoice (vendor bill) as unpaid and record your business transactions based on real-life activities.

 

Since the check is already cleared and reconciled in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT), you'll only need to unlink the payment so you won't screw up past reports and reconciliation. Before doing so, make sure to track the refunded amount to your checking account by making a bank deposit. To do this, here's how:

 

  1. Go to the Banking menu and select Make Deposits.
  2. Close the Payments to Deposit window.
  3. In the Make Deposits window, select the account you want to put the deposit into from the Deposit to dropdown.
  4. Check the deposit total. Make sure the account and selected payments match the deposit slip from your bank.
  5. Add a memo as needed and all other necessary details.
  6. Select Save & Close.

 

After that, you don't need to void the payment check. You'll only have to disconnect it from your bill so you won't mess up your previous reconciliation. Here's how:

 

  1. Go to the Vendor Center from the Vendors menu.
  2. Find your vendor and select their name to view their list of transactions.
  3. Locate the bill payment check and double-click it to open its details.
  4. Uncheck the bill in the Bills Paid In This Transaction section.
  5. Click the Save & Close button when you're done.

 

Now that the invoice (bill) and check payment are unlinked, record a Pay Bills transaction any time you need to.

 

Additionally, we recommend reconciling your checking account regularly so it matches your monthly statements and tracks your expenses accordingly.

 

You can always leave a comment below if you have additional questions about managing vendor transactions in QBDT. We in the Community are here to help you out.

Need to get in touch?

Contact us