Is there a way to lock an accounting period once reconciled?

Yes, there is a way to lock an accounting period once reconciled in QuickBooks Online (QBO), accounting. I'd be happy to help you with that. 

You can set a closing date to lock the period, which will prevent any entries from being posted after it has been closed. When you're ready to close out the year, close your books to prevent unwanted changes before filing your taxes. This locks your books so no one can edit your accounting data before the closing date.

Before closing your books, it is important to review your accounts and make sure that everything looks good. You should enter any outstanding invoices, expenses, and payments and reconcile your accounts up to your closing date. Additionally, it is important to review your inventory quantities.

Then after ensuring, you can proceed to close your books. To do that, here's how:

1. Go to Settings and then select Accounts and settings. 
2. Click on the Advanced tab and select Edit in the Accounting section.
3. Turn on the Close the books switch.
4. Choose a closing date that allows you enough time to complete your bookkeeping work before this date.
5.  If you want to require a password before editing your closed books, select the Allow changes after viewing a warning and entering a password option from the drop-down menu. 
6. Hit Save and then Done.

For more information on how to close your books in QuickBooks Online (QBO), you can refer to this article: Close your books in QuickBooks Online

If you need to change the closing date or forgot the password, you can check this article for more detailed steps: Edit your closed books in QuickBooks Online

Please let me know if you have further questions about closing books in QBO. I'm here to help. Have a good one.

I am more interested in closing a month once reconciled. I understand closing the year, but do not see a means to close a month so entries are not posted after the month is reconciled.  

Renee 

Hi Renee,

I would like to add some more information about closing your books. 

In QuickBooks Online (QBO), you cannot directly close a month like you do while closing the year. However, you can achieve a similar outcome by setting a closing date and password. This method restricts any alterations to transactions dated on or before the closing date without the password.

To do this, here's how:

1. Go to the Gear icon at the top.
2. Select Accounts and Settings.
3. In the left menu, choose Advanced.
4. Go to the Accounting section and click the pencil icon.
5. Turn on the Close the books switch.
6. Enter a closing date.
7. Enter a closing date password.
8. Select the Allow changes after viewing a warning and entering a password option from the dropdown menu if you want to require a password before editing your closed books.
9. Click Save and then Done.

By following these steps, you can close a month in QBO and prevent any modifications to reconciled transactions.

For future reference, here's a great resource to help you close out your current year and prepare for the new year in QuickBooks with your accountant: Year-end guide for QuickBooks Online.

Feel free to post here anytime you have concerns about closing your books in QBO. I will be happy to assist you. Have a good one.

Thank you for the information.  Renee

Hello there, Renee.

We're glad that the posted recommendation is of help. If you require further assistance working on specific tasks in QuickBooks, the Community is willing to assist you at any time. Have a great day ahead!

If a closing date and password setup for monthly closing purposes, like for example 01/31 for Jan., how about Feb transactions? Using password to input?

Hi there,

I'm here to address your concerns regarding closing your books monthly in QuickBooks Online.

QuickBooks Online doesn't have a direct way to close books monthly, but you can follow MirriamM's suggestion above. If you close off the month of January, you'll still be able to enter transactions for February like normal. QuickBooks won't prompt you to enter the password for transactions from February 1 onwards. Once February is over and you've reviewed your books, you can follow the same steps above and adjust the closing date to February 29.

You can find more information about closing your books in this article: Close your books in QuickBooks Online.

For future use, here's an article on viewing retained earnings for the next fiscal year: View Retained Earnings account.

If you have any other concerns about closing your books, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. I'll be right here ready to assist you.