Can I backdate, edit, or delete a transaction?

[AC]

The title of this post has been edited from the original:  Can you delete a transaction?

How do you delete a completed "Cash" transaction? I ran it just as a test.

[AC]

The title of this post has been edited from the original:  Can you delete a transaction?

[#3]

Hi @TheGlencafe,

Right now we have no plans to add the ability to backdate, delete or manipulate transaction information after a sale is complete. 

For context, the ability to manipulate transactions can cause issues for reporting and chargebacks. Also, it would make it easier for fraudsters and scammers to commit crimes using Square Point of Sale. 

If you have test cash transactions in your transaction history, you can always refund these payments to balance your books. See our help article on how to refund a payment.

Hopefully this has provided some transparency on this request, and why it's not available. 

[#4]

Hello @alexaiezza, welcome to the Seller Community! 

Currently adding the ability to delete a transaction is not on our road map. The reasoning behind this is we use this information to submit 1099-K's to the IRS. I'm not saying you would do this, but it would be easy to cook your books if this ability was available. 

Another request on this thread is to be able to void transactions so they don't show on reports. Currently we are in the process of collecting feedback for this request. I don't have a timeline on when it might be available. 

If you have any other questions please let me know! 

[#5]

@TomTr

I appreciate your feedback in regards to this. I know you've probably read this multiple times within the Seller Community, but we really do send customer feedback over to our Product Teams, and advocate for changes for you.

I absolutely agree that a void feature would help with training and testing, and also make reporting look a lot cleaner as well. You make a great point that with test payments, or payments made by mistake, nothing is ever actually sold, so your gross sales report shouldn't reflect a sale (which is what results when issuing a refund).

As you've alluded to in your previous post, there are two different requests within this thread. Some folks are looking for the ability to completely remove or delete a transaction, which isn't possible at this time. We don’t have any new information around whether or not this will ever become available.

The other option that folks are looking for, having an option to mark payments that have been completed as voided/cancelled rather than refunded, would help sellers a ton and we’ll continue to reiterate that to the team on your behalf.

We know this request is important to you, so as soon as there are updates that we’re able to share publicly, we will.

I hope this provides more clarity, and thank you all, again, for your feedback!

[#6]

Maybe the Square team can find a way to mark the transactions as Void, so that they do not affect sales totals, but neither are the transactions erased.

From an accounting standpoint, I can see why they would not let a transaction just be deleted. There has to be a documentation trail.

When I have to make test transactions, when I refund the transaction I make note that it was a test transaction and that is why it was refunded. There is also the "Accidental Charge" notation available.

Then when I download my sales reports, I sort the test transactions out and make a note in my saved spreadsheet.

[Chad]

Hello @fa-ct! I went ahead and merged your thread with an existing one since this question was asked before. Currently we don't offer the ability to delete transactions. I recommend refunding this transaction so your reports and books reflect accurately. 

[alexaiezza]

Chad,

When do you think this feature will be implemented? It seems to be in quite a demand by the user base.

[Chad]

Hello @alexaiezza, welcome to the Seller Community! 

Currently adding the ability to delete a transaction is not on our road map. The reasoning behind this is we use this information to submit 1099-K's to the IRS. I'm not saying you would do this, but it would be easy to cook your books if this ability was available. 

Another request on this thread is to be able to void transactions so they don't show on reports. Currently we are in the process of collecting feedback for this request. I don't have a timeline on when it might be available. 

If you have any other questions please let me know! 

[Bubblebed]

It’s been more than 2 years and square still couldn’t get around? This is the reason why I’m hesitant to sign up with square.

[Chad]

Hello @Bubblebed, my answer above explains why this feature is unavailable. 

[CiderDrinker]

What if my business was closed, no one was there, and the doors were locked but square created a transaction for several thousands of dollars that never happened and will throw off my books. Don't you think we should be able to erase that sale?

[GeorgeX]

Chad,

This is the first time I've understood Square's reason for never allowing us to delete a transaction. Thank you! I totally see how people could (and would) cook their books.

With that being said, what about a "training mode" that we can use when onboarding new employees? You could even limit the number of transactions so that this doesn't become another way to cook one's books.

If not, then the best idea is what you already proposed, which is to allow us to filter certain transactions from reports while not changing the back end that creates the 1099-K's.

[katieand]

Thanks for adding your idea of a "training mode" @GeorgeX! We've heard it before, but I'll be sure to surface it with the team before to share your support.

[babycreations]

+1  admins should be able to delete transactions!  ... particularly cash, check, gift card, and others that don't actually process a credit card.

[buttermilk]

We really need the ability to delete transactions or have the option to set practice/test mode. I prefer the delete option, I have 5-7 void transactions sitting in my reports. Its driving me crazy.