Case File 010: The Hidden Transactions
Case File 010: The Hidden Transactions —
When the Books Leave Things Out on Purpose
Filed under: Filter Fails & Data That Doesn’t Want to Be Found
Everything looked reconciled. Reports printed clean. But something was off --- income seemed low, expenses oddly quiet, and bank activity wasn’t matching up.
That’s when Detective Debit rolled up her sleeves. “Let’s check the filters.”
And just like that, they appeared --- hidden transactions.
The Clues
Reconciled accounts still showing a discrepancy when compared to bank statements
Reports not pulling full totals
Transactions mysteriously missing from custom views or client reports
Recurring payments never posted because of inactive rules
The Twist This isn’t a case of deletion—it’s invisibility. Filters applied
in reports, register views, or even search screens can easily exclude valid entries. And if someone accidentally unchecks “Cleared” or limits the date range, key transactions vanish… without a trace.
Detective Debit sees it all the time: reconciled balances that seem right but don’t actually reflect the full financial picture. QuickBooks didn’t eat the transactions—it just politely hid them.
The Takeaway Always double-check your filters—especially before printing reports or exporting summaries. Use “All Dates” when investigating and watch out for inactive bank rules that quietly suppress entries. And if you’re working with a bookkeeper, make sure you both speak the same language around views and visibility.
Need Backup? If something feels like it’s missing—but the software says you’re fine—it’s time for a second pair of eyes. I’ll help you find what’s hiding, restore what matters, and make sure your books are telling the whole truth.
Special Investigation: The Quarterly Tax Time Bomb. It started with silence. Then came the IRS notice. Detective Debit is called in to defuse a financial fuse already lit. Missed payments. No plan. $1,450 in penalties. Next week, we follow the trail --- and learn how to stop the ticking.
