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Refund a deposit in ​QuickBooks​

by Intuit • Image Alt Text 181
Image Alt Text Updated 5/28/2026 11:45

Learn how to refund a deposit entered in QuickBooks Online or processed with QuickBooks Payments.

An icon showing cash and a payment cardTo issue a refund directly in QuickBooks, check out QuickBooks Payments rates and apply.

If a customer paid a deposit for an invoice but later changed their mind and canceled the transaction, you can return the deposit. You can do this by giving the customer a refund and applying a credit.

The steps vary depending on whether you use QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Payments to process the deposit.

Not processed with QuickBooks Payments

To refund a deposit in QuickBooks Online, create a credit memo, create a check to refund the deposit, and then record the payment.

Step 1: Create a credit memo

  • Select + Create.

  • Select Credit Memo.

  • Select the name of the Customer on your invoice.

  • Enter the total of the invoice, including the deposit, in the Amount field.

  • Select Save.

Step 2: Create a check to refund the deposit

  • Select + Create.

  • Select Check.

  • Select the customer in the Payee field.

  • Under Category details, in Category dropdown, select Accounts Receivable.

  • Enter the amount of the deposit received in the Amount field.

  • Select Save and close.

Step 3: Record a payment

  • Select + Create.

  • Select Receive Payment.

  • Select the name of the Customer on your invoice.

  • Make sure that the total credits equal the credit memo and invoice listed under Outstanding Transactions.

  • Select the checkboxes for the credit memo and invoice in the Outstanding Transactions section.

  • Select Save and close.

Processed with QuickBooks Payments

To refund a deposit you processed using QuickBooks Payments, create a credit memo. Then refund the customer's credit card, and then apply the credit memo to the outstanding invoice.

Step 1: Create a credit memo

  • Select + Create.

  • Select Credit Memo.

  • Select the name of the Customer on your invoice.

  • Verify that the Amount field reflects the open balance of the invoice, less the amount of the deposit.

  • Select Save and close.

Step 2: Refund the customer's credit card

  • Select + Create.

  • Select Refund Receipt.

  • From the Refund method dropdown list, select the customer's credit card type.

  • Complete the fields on the Refund Receipt, using one product/service item.

  • Enter the amount of the deposit received in the Amount field.

  • Select Save and Close.

Step 3: Apply the credit memo

  • Select + Create.

  • Select Receive Payment.

  • Select the name of the Customer on your invoice.

  • Verify that the credit memo appears in the Credits section, and that the invoice appears in the Outstanding Transactions section.

  • Make sure that the total credits equal the credit memo and invoice listed under Outstanding Transactions.

  • Select both of the transactions.

  • Select Save and close.

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