diff --git a/src/libs/DebugUtils.ts b/src/libs/DebugUtils.ts
index 36f7ebda3bc9..c72cb7de9987 100644
--- a/src/libs/DebugUtils.ts
+++ b/src/libs/DebugUtils.ts
@@ -956,6 +956,7 @@ function validateTransactionDraftProperty(key: keyof Transaction, value: string)
         case 'hasEReceipt':
         case 'shouldShowOriginalAmount':
         case 'managedCard':
+        case 'wasMerchantCleared':
             return validateBoolean(value);
         case 'amount':
         case 'taxAmount':
@@ -1078,6 +1079,7 @@ function validateTransactionDraftProperty(key: keyof Transaction, value: string)
                     inserted: CONST.RED_BRICK_ROAD_PENDING_ACTION,
                     accountant: CONST.RED_BRICK_ROAD_PENDING_ACTION,
                     splitExpenses: CONST.RED_BRICK_ROAD_PENDING_ACTION,
+                    wasMerchantCleared: CONST.RED_BRICK_ROAD_PENDING_ACTION,
                 },
                 'string',
             );
diff --git a/src/libs/TransactionUtils/index.ts b/src/libs/TransactionUtils/index.ts
index 090971f1be60..420dc077cc9c 100644
--- a/src/libs/TransactionUtils/index.ts
+++ b/src/libs/TransactionUtils/index.ts
@@ -420,6 +420,10 @@ function getUpdatedTransaction({
         shouldStopSmartscan = true;
     }
 
+    if (Object.hasOwn(transactionChanges, 'wasMerchantCleared')) {
+        updatedTransaction.wasMerchantCleared = transactionChanges.wasMerchantCleared;
+    }
+
     if (Object.hasOwn(transactionChanges, 'waypoints')) {
         updatedTransaction.modifiedWaypoints = transactionChanges.waypoints;
         updatedTransaction.isLoading = true;
@@ -665,8 +669,12 @@ function isFetchingWaypointsFromServer(transaction: OnyxInputOrEntry<Transaction
  * Return the merchant field from the transaction, return the modifiedMerchant if present.
  */
 function getMerchant(transaction: OnyxInputOrEntry<Transaction>, policyParam: OnyxEntry<Policy> = undefined): string {
-    if (transaction && isDistanceRequest(transaction)) {
-        const report = getReportOrDraftReport(transaction.reportID);
+    if (!transaction) {
+        return '';
+    }
+
+    const report = getReportOrDraftReport(transaction.reportID);
+    if (isDistanceRequest(transaction)) {
         // This will be fixed as part of https://github.com/Expensify/Expensify/issues/507850
         // eslint-disable-next-line deprecation/deprecation
         const policy = policyParam ?? getPolicy(report?.policyID);
@@ -677,7 +685,12 @@ function getMerchant(transaction: OnyxInputOrEntry<Transaction>, policyParam: On
             toLocaleDigit(TranslationStore.getCurrentLocale(), digit),
         );
     }
-    return transaction?.modifiedMerchant ? transaction.modifiedMerchant : (transaction?.merchant ?? '');
+
+    // Check if merchant was intentionally cleared by user (only for personal expenses)
+    if (transaction.wasMerchantCleared) {
+        return '';
+    }
+    return transaction.modifiedMerchant ? transaction.modifiedMerchant : (transaction.merchant ?? '');
 }
 
 function getMerchantOrDescription(transaction: OnyxEntry<Transaction>) {
diff --git a/src/libs/actions/IOU.ts b/src/libs/actions/IOU.ts
index d8e0ef6dde5b..770537028f42 100644
--- a/src/libs/actions/IOU.ts
+++ b/src/libs/actions/IOU.ts
@@ -4592,10 +4592,16 @@ function updateMoneyRequestMerchant(
     policy: OnyxEntry<OnyxTypes.Policy>,
     policyTagList: OnyxEntry<OnyxTypes.PolicyTagLists>,
     policyCategories: OnyxEntry<OnyxTypes.PolicyCategories>,
+    wasMerchantCleared?: boolean,
 ) {
     const transactionChanges: TransactionChanges = {
         merchant: value,
     };
+
+    if (wasMerchantCleared !== undefined) {
+        transactionChanges.wasMerchantCleared = wasMerchantCleared;
+    }
+
     const transactionThreadReport = allReports?.[`${ONYXKEYS.COLLECTION.REPORT}${transactionThreadReportID}`] ?? null;
     const parentReport = allReports?.[`${ONYXKEYS.COLLECTION.REPORT}${transactionThreadReport?.parentReportID}`] ?? null;
     let data: UpdateMoneyRequestData;
diff --git a/src/pages/iou/request/step/IOURequestStepMerchant.tsx b/src/pages/iou/request/step/IOURequestStepMerchant.tsx
index af14bc01e941..a1702a5b2d08 100644
--- a/src/pages/iou/request/step/IOURequestStepMerchant.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/iou/request/step/IOURequestStepMerchant.tsx
@@ -100,10 +100,26 @@ function IOURequestStepMerchant({
             navigateBack();
             return;
         }
-        // When creating/editing an expense, newMerchant can be blank so we fall back on PARTIAL_TRANSACTION_MERCHANT
-        setMoneyRequestMerchant(transactionID, newMerchant || CONST.TRANSACTION.PARTIAL_TRANSACTION_MERCHANT, !isEditing);
+
+        // Check if merchant was intentionally cleared by user
+        const existingMerchantValue = merchant === CONST.TRANSACTION.PARTIAL_TRANSACTION_MERCHANT ? '' : merchant;
+        const wasMerchantCleared = newMerchant === '' && existingMerchantValue !== '';
+
+        // Determine the merchant value to save
+        let merchantValue: string;
+        if (wasMerchantCleared) {
+            if (isMerchantRequired) {
+                return;
+            }
+            merchantValue = '';
+        } else {
+            // Fallback to PARTIAL_TRANSACTION_MERCHANT only if merchant is null or undefined
+            merchantValue = newMerchant ?? CONST.TRANSACTION.PARTIAL_TRANSACTION_MERCHANT;
+        }
+
+        setMoneyRequestMerchant(transactionID, merchantValue, !isEditing);
         if (isEditing) {
-            updateMoneyRequestMerchant(transactionID, reportID, newMerchant || CONST.TRANSACTION.PARTIAL_TRANSACTION_MERCHANT, policy, policyTags, policyCategories);
+            updateMoneyRequestMerchant(transactionID, reportID, merchantValue, policy, policyTags, policyCategories, wasMerchantCleared && !isMerchantRequired);
         }
         navigateBack();
     };
diff --git a/src/types/onyx/Transaction.ts b/src/types/onyx/Transaction.ts
index 6898997336c0..f0ac31d9c809 100644
--- a/src/types/onyx/Transaction.ts
+++ b/src/types/onyx/Transaction.ts
@@ -548,6 +548,9 @@ type Transaction = OnyxCommon.OnyxValueWithOfflineFeedback<
 
         /** The inserted time of the transaction */
         inserted?: string;
+
+        /** Whether the merchant field was intentionally cleared by the user */
+        wasMerchantCleared?: boolean;
     },
     keyof Comment | keyof TransactionCustomUnit | 'attendees'
 >;