Why do deleted duplicate transactions keep reappearing in my QuickBooks Online client's bank register, and how do I stop it for good?

Deleted duplicate transactions come back because deleting them from the register isn't the same as telling QuickBooks the charge has been handled. Once a downloaded transaction has already been added to the books, deleting it straight from the register leaves QuickBooks still looking for that transaction on the bank's data feed, so it downloads the same one again. That's also why the audit log and the For review tab don't show anything useful: the duplicate isn't waiting for review, it's just being re-added from the feed each time. The fix is to undo the transaction back to the For review tab and exclude it there instead.

Here's how to stop it for good:

1. Go to All apps, then Accounting, then Bank transactions.
2. Select the bank account with the duplicates.
3. Go to the Categorized tab (this may show as Posted).
4. Find each duplicate transaction, then select the link in the Added or Matched column.
5. Select Undo. This sends the transaction back to the For review tab (also labeled Pending).
6. From the For review tab, select the checkbox for the duplicate, then select Exclude.

Once a transaction is excluded this way, QuickBooks stops the bank from bringing it into the feed again. That's different from deleting it straight from the register, which doesn't stop the bank from sending it back.

A few things worth keeping in mind:

• If one copy of a duplicate has already been reconciled, keep that one and remove the other. Reconciled transactions show a C or R in the checkmark column.
• If a reconciled transaction was already deleted before trying this, the beginning balance on the next reconciliation may be off. Check with your accountant (when applicable) before adjusting past reconciliations.
• To stop new duplicates from forming in the first place, review your bank rules and turn off auto-add, so downloaded transactions land in For review first instead of posting automatically.
• Reconciling every month makes it much easier to catch a duplicate before it slips into a completed reconciliation.

For the full explanation of why excluding works and deleting doesn't: Exclude a bank transaction you downloaded into QuickBooks Online. For the complete steps on finding and removing duplicates depending on where they sit in the account: Fix duplicate transactions in QuickBooks Online bank feeds.

Let us know below if anything still doesn't look right once you've worked through this. We're glad to help you get it squared away before the return is due.