Merge duplicate payees by copying ACH or wire details from your manually created record into the synced record from QuickBooks or Xero, then deleting the original.
What you need before you start
Desktop access to Relay (payee editing is not available in the mobile app)
Both duplicate payee records visible under Payments > Payees
Payment details (ACH account and routing numbers, or wire information) already saved on your original manually created record
A connected QuickBooks or Xero account, if the duplicate came in from your accounting software
When do I need to merge payees manually?
Manual merging is needed when two duplicate payees have different email addresses on file. Relay's automatic merge only combines records that share the same email, so if you created the payee by hand in Relay and later synced the same vendor from QuickBooks or Xero under a different email, you will need to move the payment details over yourself.
What is the difference between the old and new payee record?
The old record is the one you created manually in Relay, and it holds the payment details (ACH, wire, or check information) that you want to keep. The new record is the one synced in from your accounting software. It has no payment details yet, but Relay selects it by default whenever you go to pay a bill for that vendor, so you need to move the payment information into it before the old record can be removed.
How do I merge duplicate payees step by step?
Sign in to Relay on desktop.
Go to Payments > Payees.
Search for the payee name to surface both records.
Open the old record (the one with payment details already filled in).
Click the eye icon to reveal the account and routing numbers, then copy them.
Open the new record (the one synced from QuickBooks or Xero) and click Edit.
Confirm the "This payee is synced from Xero" message when prompted.
Paste the ACH, wire, or check details into the new record.
Click Save.
Return to the old record and delete it once you have verified that the new record has every payment detail you need.
Can I delete a payee that was synced from my accounting software?
Synced payees cannot be deleted from within Relay, only un-synced. If you want the synced record removed entirely, disconnect it from QuickBooks or Xero first, and then delete it from Relay. This is why the manual merge process moves the payment details into the synced record: the synced record is the one Relay will keep referencing for future bill payments, so that is where the ACH or wire information needs to live.
Common issues
Both records still appear after saving: refresh the Payees list and search again. The old record will remain until you delete it in step 10.
The Edit button is greyed out on the synced record: confirm you are on desktop. Editing synced payees is not supported in the mobile app.
Payment details do not paste correctly: re-open the old record and use the eye icon to reveal the full account and routing numbers before copying, one field at a time.
You accidentally deleted the wrong record: if the record with payment details is gone, re-enter the ACH or wire information manually on the remaining record before your next bill payment.
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