diff --git a/app/Controllers/AgentController.php b/app/Controllers/AgentController.php
index 3f667ec..afef807 100644
--- a/app/Controllers/AgentController.php
+++ b/app/Controllers/AgentController.php
@@ -613,8 +613,13 @@ class AgentController extends ResourceController
         try{
             $data = $this->request->getPost();
 
-            //duplicate check
-            $duplicateData = $this->AgentIncentiveFileModel->where('agent_id',$data['agent_id'])->where('incentive_month',$data['incentive_month'])->where('file_type','incentive')->first();
+            //duplicate check (ignore soft-deleted rows)
+            $duplicateData = $this->AgentIncentiveFileModel
+                ->where('agent_id', $data['agent_id'])
+                ->where('incentive_month', $data['incentive_month'])
+                ->where('file_type', 'incentive')
+                ->where('is_active', 1)
+                ->first();
             if(!empty($duplicateData)){
                 return $this->respond(['status' => 'failed', 'code' => 200, 'data' => 'Duplicate Entry.'], 200);
             }