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C
coventgardenmartin
July 17, 2021
Question

Paypal Transactions Downloaded Have Mostly Empty Description Fields

  • July 17, 2021
  • 19 replies
  • 53 views

I've just joined QBO and have multiple bank accounts. I've attached them all and downloaded transactions going back to the 1st of the year. When I look at TRANSACTIONS / BANKING and select the Paypal bank I see all the transactions but the DESCRIPTION field for more than 80% of them is blank. The remaining 20% are normal and say Uber or Airbnb or Google. And when I click the gear and add Payee or Show Detail I get Paypal for all of them and the detail is always a long transaction ID like: Transaction ID: 3YS86149WH5095338https://www.paypal.com/activity/payment/3YB8614FFS5095338 I have to literally click every one of these transactions to be taken to Paypal to see it says something like: Seller: KEY FOOD GROCERY STORE  etc. This should be in the description fields so I can make rules and easily identify the purchase but this is nowhere to be found in these 80% of the transactions.

 

Did I import them improperly in the initial bank setup of QBO? Should I be seeing these seller names in the transactions like I do for all of the other accounts I have on QBO? They are formatted slightly differently but you can see who the business is and can make a rule. What am I doing wrong? Or need to do?

 

Desperate for some help. Thanks! 

19 replies

MichelleBh
MichelleBh
Level 8
July 17, 2021

I appreciate you for uploading your PayPal data into QuickBooks, @coventgardenmartin.

 

I have here some troubleshooting steps with your PayPal transactions in QuickBooks Online (QBO). Thus, you can see the appropriate transaction description without a moment's delay. 

 

Missing details or data in QBO are usually the results of outdated or corrupt cache files in your web browser. Not to worry, you can clear them in just a few easy steps. To begin, I'd suggest logging in to your QBO account through incognito. This way, you can check if it's a browser-related issue. 

 

Here are the keyboard shortcuts:

  • Ctrl + Shift + N (Google Chrome)
  • Ctrl + Shift + P (Firefox)
  • Control + Option + P (Safari)
  • Ctrl + Shift + P (Microsoft Edge)

 

Once logged in, re-check the description of your transaction on the Banking page to verify if it's already performing well. If that works, you'll want to clear the cache of your regular browser. Doing this will force QuickBooks to load a fresh copy of everything on the screen and help to restore those missing descriptions. In addition, using another supported browser is a great decision too. 

 

If the issue persists, I'd recommend contacting PayPal support. They have tools to review your account settings and find a way to include the transaction description while integrating. This way, you see the description within QuickBooks automatically. Also, the transactions being downloaded to QBO are dependent on what the financial institution provided.

 

Once everything is in order, you can now categorize and reconcile your PayPal account whenever you're ready. Then review your chart of accounts to track all the data you've entered into the system. 

 

Feel easy to visit these articles below the frequently asked questions about importing PayPal transactions and other related topics. 

 

 

Should you have any other concerns or questions about PayPal data, please don't hesitate to get back to me. I'm more than happy to help you. Stay safe.

C
coventgardenmartinAuthor
July 18, 2021

I'm still awaiting a reply to my last post. Thanks.

R
Rasa-LilaMQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
July 18, 2021


I appreciate adding more details about your concern, coventgardenmartin.


I know the importance of having accurate records of transactions. This allows you to track them smoothly. Let me help ensure the data downloaded from PayPal has the complete details.


As mentioned by my colleagues, the data we receive is dependent upon what the app shares with us. Also, the level of detail we can retrieve often depends on how PayPal has been used in each context.


Check out the following article for additional information. Then proceed directly to the Unexpected results and errors section: Connect to PayPal FAQ.


In regard to excluding the transactions, you’ll only be removing them in the For Review section. If you wish to keep them in the Excluded tab, you have the option not to delete the data.


When you disconnect your PayPal account, your existing accounting data won't change. You can reconnect it any time to start downloading transactions again.


To unlink the account, I recommend following the steps shared by @JessT. Additionally, this guide contains tips on when to disconnect or delete accounts: Disconnect or delete accounts connected to online banking.

 

If you need help with managing transactions and bank related-activities, click here to access our self-help articles. You'll see topics about reconciliation, deposits, matching entries to name a few.

 

I'm here to assist you again if you have other questions about QuickBooks Online. Simply click the Reply button and leave a comment below. Have a good one. 

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