Hi Thomas, would you mind sharing a screen shot of just that particular entry of the reconciliation?  I may be able to help as this has happened to me a few times.  Normally, if it is just an entry on the reconciliation, you should be able to "double click" on the entry and it will take you directly there.  It sounds like you have made an error in your entries somewhere or not entered a bank charge, which you may have to review your bank statement for.

Hi Melissa,

Thanks for your response -- I've attached a screen shot (I hope you're able to enlarge it). I entered the bank service charge of $4.75 but forgot to change the date to Jan 31/22, so it went in as Dec 31/22. I went back and reversed that transaction. However, the status for the $4.75 in the deposits column is either 'outstanding' or 'cleared' if checked, rather than 'adjustment', so I wonder if this is where the problem lies. When I double click on that line, I just get a General Journal Display for printing.

Because the date entered was Dec 31, 2021, I'm wondering if I need to go back into previous year to make an adjustment there?

Thanks!

Hi Thomas, no problem, at all.  I'm definitely not an expert either, but another set of eyes on the problem never hurts.  OK, when was the original bank charge supposed to be in Dec or Jan?   Are you sure you have added up all the bank charges correctly for both months?  If it was suppose to be cleared in Dec you must reverse the entry you made in Jan and reenter for Dec (because you basically added a charge that did not exist in Jan.  Let me know if this works

Hi Melissa,

The bank charge is $4.75 each month, posted on the last day of the month on the bank statement. I did my December reconciliation in January and the bank charge was dated Dec 31 on that statement. That reconciliation all worked out fine. Now I'm trying to reconcile January, and the bank charge on the latest statement is dated January 31st. 

Currently I have three JEs for bank service charges. one is dated Dec 31, and I reversed that one because I thought I had mistakenly entered January's with the incorrect date. The second and third JEs are dated Jan 31, so I've reversed one of those. So now I'm showing just one JE to be cleared. That makes sense to me, except that my opening balance in Sage is $4.75 higher than on my bank statement. I just searched from the beginning of December, and I don't see a JE for December's bank charge, so I think I need to put that back in. Would I do that in the current reconciliation, i.e. would I then have bank charges for both Dec 31 and Jan 31 in the same reconciliation?

I could kick myself!  I actually wrote to you originally after you sent the screenshot, that I did not see the original entry for the bank charge, only the reversal and was going to tell you that you forgot to enter it.  But I second guessed myself and erased that response.  SMDH.  OK.  If you entered another charge in Jan they would both show up in Jan.  That's ok.   make the "adjusting entry" in the GJ in Jan for the 4.75 from Dec.  Try that, see if it works.  If it does not, just reverse it in the GJ. No harm done, just frustration. Next time I have a problem, I'm emailing you!  LOL  Make sure you make a note on the Comment bar above that mentions why you are making the entry.  Sorry if it doesn't work.  If I had more time, I would ask our accountant for you, but not sure if you have a deadline?

You definitely don't want to ask me for advice on Sage LOL! 

Okay, I've entered the bank charge again for Dec 31, and hurrah, I have zero for Outstanding and Unresolved. The only thing is I still have a $4.75 difference between the opening balance in Sage and the bank statement, but it seems to me that should work itself out in the next reconciliation.

Sorry, I'm not sure which is the comment bar for that note.

And you have definitely been very helpful -- thanks so much!!

Thomas are all your bank charges made in the GJ?  if so, don't "post" your reconciliation.  I can ask my accountant and you can still make the necessary adjustments if need be.  Once you "post" reconciliation you can't change anything.  Do you want me to double check?

I haven't yet posted but the changes are all made in GL, so if you have time, that would be super -- thank you!

OK, will do, I should have an answer by tomorrow.

Sent the "scenerio" to our accountant.  I did not share the screenshot, as I did not have your permission to do so.  But I gave explanation.  Fingers crossed we did the correct entry.

Here is response from accountant:

In this case you can adjust in January so as not to affect 2021 

Best not make any changes into 2021 at all.

Thanks Melissa -- I think we're back on track. Many thanks for all your help!