How to Delete a Payment in QuickBooks

To delete a payment in QuickBooks, first locate the payment under the customer or sales menu. Review all details carefully, confirm it’s the correct entry, then use the Delete option. After deletion, update or reapply payments if needed and verify your accounts receivable and reports for accuracy. This process ensures your records remain correct without affecting invoices or client balances.

Open QuickBooks and Access the Payment

Log into QuickBooks Online or Desktop. Navigate to the Sales or Customers menu and select Payments or Receive Payments. Locate the payment you want to delete by searching for the customer name or payment date.

Example: If a payment from “John Doe Plumbing” was accidentally recorded for $1,200 instead of $1,000, locate this payment first.

Review Payment Details

Before deleting, double-check the payment details. Ensure that you are deleting the correct payment to avoid mistakes. Check:

• Customer name
• Payment amount
• Payment method (e.g., check, ACH, credit card)
• Invoice applied

Delete the Payment

Once confirmed, click More (or the three-dot menu) and select Delete. QuickBooks will prompt you to confirm the deletion. Confirm to remove the payment from your records.

Example: Deleting a $1,200 payment from John Doe Plumbing will automatically update the associated invoice as unpaid for $1,200.

Update or Reapply Payment (If Needed)

After deletion, you may need to reapply the payment or adjust invoices. If a customer paid partially or the payment was entered incorrectly, create a new payment entry with the correct details.

Example: Enter a new payment of $1,000 for John Doe Plumbing and link it to the correct invoice.

Verify Accounting Records

After deleting the payment, check your accounts receivable and reports to ensure everything aligns correctly. Verify that the invoice shows the correct unpaid balance, and your general ledger reflects accurate data.

Tip: Use the Customer Balance Summary or Accounts Receivable Aging reports to double-check.

Bonus Tip: Integrate DepositFix for Payment Accuracy

You can avoid mistakes with payments with DepositFix, which integrates with QuickBooks. Payments recorded via DepositFix are automatically synced, reducing manual errors. If a payment is entered incorrectly, corrections are easier, and invoices remain accurate.