# How to stop paying a purchase invoice twice in Sage 50

Before you enter a purchase invoice in Sage 50, search the supplier's bills for the same number or amount. Use one reference format and check the supplier payment run for repeats.

Duplicate payment is when the same supplier invoice is entered or paid more than once. It often happens when an invoice arrives by two routes.

## Before you start

- Sage 50 Accounts (UK)

## The Sage 50 way

Where to find it: Suppliers > Batch invoice

1. Enter the batch invoice as normal.
2. If Sage sees an apparent duplicate an alert appears when you save.

## Limits in Sage 50

- Community users report the check needs account, date, amount and reference all to match (not official).
- Applies to batch invoices and credits for customers, suppliers and subcontractors.

## The Pulsify way

1. Forward the supplier's invoice to Pulsify.
2. Pulsify compares the invoice number with punctuation and case ignored, plus the same supplier, invoice date or tax ID.
3. It checks other Pulsify documents and active bills in Sage 50.
4. A possible duplicate is flagged. Open the match, then reject or approve anyway.

Pulsify connects to Sage 50. We set up the connection for you.

What Pulsify does not do here:

- Pulsify flags. You decide.
- A duplicate with a quite different invoice number may not be found.

## Common mistakes

- Dismissing the duplicate alert without checking the earlier invoice.
- Treating a missing alert as proof of no duplicate, when a changed date or reference may get past the check.

## Common questions

### Does Sage 50 warn about duplicate invoices?

Yes. If Sage sees an apparent duplicate an alert appears when you save a batch invoice.

### What counts as a duplicate?

Community users report the check needs account, date, amount and reference all to match. That is not official.

### Where does the alert apply?

To batch invoices and credits for customers, suppliers and subcontractors.

### What does Pulsify check?

The invoice number with punctuation and case ignored, plus the same supplier, invoice date or tax ID.

## Sources

- https://gb-kb.sage.com/portal/app/portlets/results/viewsolution.jsp?solutionid=200427112601649&hypermediatext=null

Source: https://www.pulsify.tech/how-to/stop-paying-a-bill-twice-in-sage-50/ (last checked 2026-10-19)