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TXFlipo
Level 1

Erroneous OBE (Opening Balance Equity) and Credit Card Liability Accounts

When I reviewed my 2025 end of the year balance sheet, I discovered I now have an Opening Balance Equity (OBE) account and a corresponding Credit Card liability account (named after my business name). My research shows these accounts do NOT exist when I create an April 2025 balance sheet but DO appear in my May 2025 balance sheet.  The amount in each account is $11,012.83 and is dated May 25 in QBO.  First, I wondered why those two accounts were there, and second, where did the $11K value come from.  Our actual business credit card account has never even come close to that amount.  I did a lot of searching for that value and finally got lucky on a hunch and found the exact amount listed on my Chase bank statement as one of ten “Daily Ending Balances”.  The exact balance value is recorded on the bank statement as occurring on May 19th.  In my research of this issue, I learned QBO will create the two accounts when a new account is created, and a starting balance is entered (such as a new credit card).  There is no legitimate reason for me to have these accounts.  My gut tells me QBO initiated a download of my checking account, for some reason latched on to the $11K “Daily Ending Balance” and assumed it was a new account with a balance and created the two new accounts.  Of course, since this occurred in 2025 everything has been reconciled.  I do not want those two accounts on my balance sheet and want them to go away.  How do I make that happen?  Delete them? Journal entries?  Please help.

2 Comments 2
Nathania_P
QuickBooks Team

Erroneous OBE (Opening Balance Equity) and Credit Card Liability Accounts

Hi there, TXFlipo. Since you've already reconciled for 2025, the best way to handle this is to make the accounts inactive, as you cannot use a journal entry for this or fully delete an account; you can only make it inactive or merge it with another. This ensures your historical records remain intact.

 

Here’s how to make the account inactive:

 

  1. Go to the Gear icon and select Chart of Accounts.
  2. Find the account you want to make inactive.
  3. Click the View register  dropdown, then select Make inactive.
  4. Repeat this for the Opening Balance Equity account if it was only used for this specific entry.

 

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For more details on managing your records, refer to this article: Make an account inactive on your chart of accounts in QuickBooks Online.

 

Alternatively, you may consider subscribing to QuickBooks Live Assisted to have an even better experience and access to expert bookkeeping assistance.

 

If you have any additional concerns, please reach out to us again. We’re always here to help.

Nathania_P
QuickBooks Team

Erroneous OBE (Opening Balance Equity) and Credit Card Liability Accounts

Hi @TXFlipo

 

I just wanted to follow up to check if the resolution we provided helped resolve your issue.

 

Please let us know if everything is now working as expected or if you’re still experiencing any problems.

 

We’ll be glad to assist further if needed.

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