Why Your QuickBooks Balance Doesn’t Match the Bank
Your QuickBooks balance says one thing, but your bank statement says another. Sound familiar?
This mismatch is one of the most common issues small-business owners face, and it can throw your financials-and your peace of mind-off track.
The good news: it’s fixable.
Here’s why your QuickBooks balance doesn’t match your bank and what you can do to correct it-quickly, safely, and permanently.
Our QuickBooks Reconciliation Services fix out-of-balance accounts and deliver CPA-reviewed accuracy.
Missing or Duplicate Transactions
QuickBooks only knows what’s entered into it.
Common causes:
- Duplicate imports from bank feeds.
- Missing transactions not imported or recorded manually.
Fix:
- Compare QuickBooks’ register to your actual statement.
- Delete duplicates and add missing entries.
- Reconcile the account after corrections.
Duplicate data is the #1 reason QuickBooks and bank balances don’t agree.
Outstanding Checks or Deposits
Checks or deposits that haven’t cleared your bank yet cause temporary differences.
Fix:
- Identify uncleared transactions in QuickBooks.
- Wait until they clear, then reconcile again.
- Mark as cleared in the next reconciliation cycle.
Timing differences are normal-but they must be tracked.
Encountering reconciliation mistakes in QuickBooks?
Check out our guide to common QuickBooks reconciliation errors and learn how to avoid them.
Incorrect Opening or Starting Balances
If your QuickBooks account was set up with an incorrect starting balance, every future reconciliation will be off.
Fix:
- Verify the original opening balance matches the first bank statement.
- Adjust through a single correcting entry, reviewed by a CPA.
- Lock prior reconciliations to prevent further drift.
An accurate starting point is everything.
Deleted or Modified Transactions
Sometimes, reconciled transactions are changed or deleted by mistake.
Fix:
- Open the Audit Log in QuickBooks.
- Recreate or restore the deleted entries.
- Re-run the affected reconciliation period.
CPA review helps ensure these changes are properly documented.
Bank Fees, Interest, or Transfers Not Recorded
Bank activity that isn’t recorded in QuickBooks can cause mismatches.
Fix:
- Add service fees and interest income under the correct accounts.
- Record internal transfers between accounts.
- Review your statement for small line items-those few dollars add up fast.
Got a broken QuickBooks file?
Check our guide to fixing QuickBooks files.
Errors in Bank Feed or Data Sync
If your bank connection is broken or lagging:
Fix:
- Refresh your feed and reimport missing transactions.
- Compare the feed totals against your statement.
- Reconcile after confirming completeness.
Automation simplifies bookkeeping-but only if the data flows correctly.
Why CPA Review Prevents Recurrence
CPA-reviewed reconciliation detects and prevents these errors early.
- Every variance is documented and corrected.
- Balances are locked after review.
- Reports stay accurate across all periods.
When a CPA signs off, mismatched balances become a thing of the past.
How RemoteBooksOnline Fixes Unmatched Balances
- Certified QuickBooks bookkeepers identify missing or duplicate data.
- CPAs review reconciliations for compliance and completeness.
- Variance reports show exactly what was fixed.
- Secure, cloud-based workflow ensures transparency.
We restore balance and keep it that way month after month.
FAQs
Why doesn’t my QuickBooks balance match my bank?
Usually due to missing, duplicate, or uncleared transactions-or a wrong starting balance.
How do I fix unmatched balances?
Compare your QuickBooks register with your statement line by line, then reconcile after correcting discrepancies.
What if I can’t find the problem?
A CPA-reviewed reconciliation service can locate and correct historical mismatches efficiently.
How long does it take to fix?
RemoteBooksOnline typically restores full accuracy within 5-10 business days, even for multi-month mismatches.
Still seeing mismatched balances in QuickBooks?
Get professional help with RemoteBooksOnline’s QuickBooks Reconciliation Services – fast, accurate, and CPA-reviewed.
If your books are months behind, combine this with our Catch-Up Bookkeeping services for full restoration.
Protect your business by clearly defining your outsourced bookkeeping SLA for smooth and reliable service.
