diff --git a/app/services/teller_service.py b/app/services/teller_service.py
index 4565740..7604492 100644
--- a/app/services/teller_service.py
+++ b/app/services/teller_service.py
@@ -181,17 +181,17 @@ def parse_transaction(teller_txn, pfm_account_id, category_id_map):
     Returns dict with keys matching Transaction model fields.
 
     Teller amounts:
-    - Positive = money leaving the account (expense / debit)
-    - Negative = money entering the account (income / credit)
+    - Positive = money entering the account (income / credit)
+    - Negative = money leaving the account (expense / debit)
     """
     amount_raw = float(teller_txn.get('amount', 0))
-    # Teller: positive = outflow (expense), negative = inflow (income)
-    if amount_raw > 0:
+    # Teller: positive = inflow/credit (income), negative = outflow/debit (expense)
+    if amount_raw < 0:
         txn_type = 'expense'
-        amount = amount_raw
+        amount = abs(amount_raw)
     else:
         txn_type = 'income'
-        amount = abs(amount_raw)
+        amount = amount_raw
 
     description = teller_txn.get('description', '').strip() or 'Teller transaction'
     # Use enriched counterparty name if available
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ def import_transactions(parsed_txns, teller_account):
     affected_accounts = set()
 
     for p in parsed_txns:
-        # Duplicate check: match on teller_id in notes OR date+amount+description
+        # Duplicate check: match on teller_id in notes
         teller_id = p['teller_id']
         existing = Transaction.query.filter(
             Transaction.notes.like(f'%{teller_id}%')
@@ -319,10 +319,25 @@ def import_transactions(parsed_txns, teller_account):
     teller_account.enrollment.last_synced_at = now
     if parsed_txns:
         teller_account.last_teller_txn_id = parsed_txns[0]['teller_id']
-    from app.extensions import db as _db
-    _db.session.commit()
+    db.session.commit()
 
-    for account_id in affected_accounts:
-        calc_balance(account_id)
+    # Refresh balance from Teller live API (source of truth for linked accounts).
+    # Fall back to transaction-computed balance only if the API call fails.
+    if teller_account.pfm_account_id:
+        try:
+            bal_data  = get_balance(teller_account.enrollment.access_token,
+                                    teller_account.teller_account_id)
+            available = float(bal_data.get('available') or bal_data.get('ledger') or 0)
+            ledger    = float(bal_data.get('ledger')    or bal_data.get('available') or 0)
+            is_credit = teller_account.pfm_account.account_type == 'credit_card'
+            teller_account.pfm_account.balance = -abs(ledger) if is_credit else available
+            db.session.commit()
+            log.info('[teller] balance refreshed after sync for %s: %.2f',
+                     teller_account.account_name, float(teller_account.pfm_account.balance))
+        except Exception as e:
+            log.warning('[teller] live balance unavailable after sync, falling back to '
+                        'calc_balance: %s', e)
+            for account_id in affected_accounts:
+                calc_balance(account_id)
 
     return imported, skipped