QuickBooks Online year-end guide and checklist

Check when your accounting period starts. This lets QuickBooks Online clear accounting ledgers while you work on other year-end activities.

1. Go to Go to Settings ⚙, then select Account and settings.
2. Select Advanced.
3. In the Accounting section, select the pencil icon ✎.
4. Select the First month of financial year ▼ dropdown, then select the month where you start your financial year.
5. Select Save.
6. Select Done.

At the end of the year, it’s good to check each customer’s account balances. Make sure their info is up to date and review any outstanding balances.

1. Go to Reports (Take me there).
2. In the Find report by name ▼ dropdown, select Accounts receivable ageing summary or Accounts receivable ageing detail.
   Note: These reports are only available in QuickBooks Online Plus and Essentials.
3. Review the report. Then, identify customers with outstanding balances.
   Note: If you find outstanding balances, create and send a statement to the customer.

Clear any outstanding bank deposits from the deposit queue. You can record and create bank deposits if there are still payments in the undeposited funds account. This is to make sure that all payments are included in your current year’s income. 

Review your supplier account balances and check if you have any outstanding bills, credits, discounts, or products.

1. Go to Reports (Take me there).
2. In the Find report by name ▼ dropdown, select Accounts payable ageing summary or Accounts payable ageing detail.
   Note: These reports are only available in QuickBooks Online Plus and Essentials.
3. Review the report, then identify the outstanding bills.
   Note: You can pay with a check or bill payments to settle any outstanding bills to your suppliers.

Reconcile all your accounts monthly to make sure transactions are recorded correctly in QuickBooks. This lets you have balanced and accurate data by the end of the year and prepare for tax season.

Here’s the workflow and tips for year-end reconciliation.

If needed, your accountant can help you distribute retained earnings among partners.

You can also set up an Owner's Equity and Draws account and track payments or withdrawals over the year.

Your accountant can help you with your year-end process, forecast your company’s financial future, and review your books. 

If you haven’t invited yet, you can add your accountant to QuickBooks Online. This allows them to have all the financial information to prepare and file taxes on your behalf.

If needed, your accountant can review your accounts and reclassify transactions. They can add, move, or edit from the register and change the account or class of the transaction. This helps you organise your Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet.

After you review all of your financial data, you can close your books for the year-end. It can prevent unwanted changes that may affect your financial reports before the closing date and before filing your taxes.