If a transaction isn't showing up in Books, it's usually one of three things: the account hasn't finished setup, the transaction is older than the window your connection can import, or it's dated before your books begin. Here's how to tell which.
Check the account's setup status
Linking an account and finishing its setup are two separate steps. An account can appear on your Accounts page while still waiting on the rest of its configuration — and nothing syncs until that's done.
Go to Accounts and check the status on each row:
- Auto-synced — the account is connected and transactions are flowing
- Setup needed — setup isn't finished yet. Select the account to complete it
- Sync paused — syncing was stopped for this account
- Connection lost — the connection needs to be re-established
For Stripe and PayPal, setup includes mapping your revenue, fee, and refund GL accounts. Until that's complete, the connection stays pending and no transactions come through.
How far back each connection imports
When you first connect an account, Books imports history up to a limit set by each provider. It can't pull transactions older than that window:
| Connection | How far back it imports |
|---|---|
| Connected external bank accounts | Up to 2 years |
| Payment platforms (e.g. Stripe, PayPal) | Up to 2 years |
| Payroll providers (e.g. Gusto) | Back to January 1 of two years ago |
These limits come from our integration partners or the providers themselves, so anything older won't be available to import.
Other reasons a transaction might not appear
Even inside that window, Books won't add a transaction if:
- It's dated before your books' start date. Books only tracks activity from the start date you set. Transactions before it are skipped.
- It falls in a closed period. Once you've reconciled and closed a period, new transactions dated within it won't be added automatically, so your reconciled numbers don't change.
- The account's sync start date is later than the transaction. Anything before that date won't import.
- The import is still finishing. After you connect an account, your transaction history can take a while to arrive. Give it some time and check back.
- It's still pending. Pending transactions may not appear until they clear.
What to do next
- On the Accounts page, confirm the account shows Auto-synced. If it says Setup needed, finish setup first.
- Check the transaction's date against the limits above.
- Confirm your books' start date under Settings > Books details.
- Confirm the account's sync start date on the Accounts page.
- Still missing? If the account shows Auto-synced and the transaction is dated within the last 2 years, after your books' start date, and outside any closed period, contact Support with the account name and the transaction's date and amount.
FAQs
How long should a sync take?
After sign up
- Your Mercury transactions appear in Books within seconds. Transactions from external accounts — banks, payment platforms, and payroll — typically start syncing within a few minutes of finishing setup. A first-time import of a long history can take longer to fully arrive.
On an ongoing basis
- Mercury transactions appear within seconds of posting.
- External bank and payment platform transactions sync as soon as the provider sends an update — usually several times a day.
- Payroll syncs run hourly minutes.
Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.