A fix to be able to generate State W2 - efile so can eile State W2's

This will happen if you have an older version of the W-2 e-file template and newer 64-bit Excel.

If you have a payroll subscription, you should be able to get the latest template by updating your payroll files. From the Employees menu, pick Get Payroll Updates to get the latest of everything including your forms.

I have updated my payroll files in all the versions I work on for my clients

but still get error

It's my priority to e-file State W2s, Vs Bk.

Let's make sure your version of QuickBooks is up-to-date. After you update, open QuickBooks and create the state W-2 again. Let me show you how: 

1. Go to Employees, then Payroll Tax Forms & W-2s, and click create State W-2 E-file.
2. Tap Continue twice.
3. Select your state from the dropdown, then select Get QuickBooks Data.
4. Hit OK. If you need to, fix any errors or add missing info.
5. Choose the Add-Ins tab to locate the QuickBooks Payroll State W-2 dropdown and choose Start Interview.
6. Check the box I understand that I must review my data and answer the following questions. Then Next.
7. Note the file name and location. Hit Next.
8. Answer the questions in the interview and review any auto-populated info.
9. Click Next until you reach the End of Interview.
10. Choose Create W-2 File, then select OK.
11. Press Yes to save the Excel workbook for your records.

Here's an article you can refer to for more details about filing your state W-2s with Quickbooks Desktop Payroll Enhanced. If the same thing happens, check the system requirements for your version of QuickBooks since each version works with specific versions of Microsoft Office. If your version of Microsoft Office isn't compatible, you'll need to upgrade. Once done, follow the steps from Microsoft to repair Microsoft Office. Then go back into QuickBooks and export a report.

If the error persists, toggle your Windows UAC settings on and off. This should reset anything blocking the export feature. These steps work for Windows 7, 8, and 10. Here's how:

1. Open the Windows Start menu. Type User Account Control Settings into the search and open User Account Control Settings.
2. Select and move the slider to Never Notify. Then select OK.
3. Restart your computer.

Go back into QuickBooks and create State W-2 E-file again. Feel free to visit our Tax forms page for more insight s about adding and managing your tax forms.

Please touch base with us here if there's anything else you need, I'm determined to ensure your success. Wishing you and your business continued success in all that you do.

We are having this issue across multiple computers.  All have the same things in common:  A Windows update in the last 5-7 days; a QB update in the last 5-7 days.  All running QB Premier Accountant 2022.  I've tried Excel 32 bit, 64 bit, uninstalling both Excel and QB, editing the Microsoft Windows Registry, per their KB, changing Macro permissions, trust settings, you name it, we've tried it.  All to no avail.  Same issue where QB isn't allowing Excel to retrieve data.

This text export for state efiling is incredibly important.  Otherwise we are building .txt files by hand to upload to all of the states we prepare for!  Help!

That is quite unusual, @taboracctg.

We appreciate the effort you put in to adhere to my colleague's above-mentioned recommendations. If none of them were successful for you, I advise contacting our QuickBooks Support to have this looked into. They have the resources needed to carry out any system escalations on your behalf as needed, unlike on this open forum. Here's how:

1. Open QuickBooks.
2. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
3. Select Contact Us.
4. Give a brief description of your issue, then select Continue.
5. Sign in to your Intuit account and select Continue and then Continue with my account.
   • If you don't already have an account, make sure to Create a new account.
6. We'll email you a single use code. Enter your code and select Continue.
   • If you have more than one account, select the account you want to use and then Continue.
7. Select to chat with us or Have us call you.

Once your back on track, feel free to browse these articles for future tasks: 

• W2 form boxes explained
• File W-2 forms

Keep me posted about how this goes. I'll stay around until you're able to file W-2s in QuickBooks. 

Update:

I spoke with a very nice and knowledgeable woman at QB support who acknowledged that this is a widespread problem that has occurred since a Windows and QB update over the past few days.  

On one of our machines, I was able to update everything, drivers, firmware, BIOS, update the payroll update in QB and reinstall all QB updates to get it to work.  But, these fixes did not work on two other machines.  I had previously changed everything suggested by Microsoft and QB for this error (which included a Windows Registry edit, changing the permissions in Excel, etc, etc), so I don't know if these aided in the one machine working and not the others.  I can't replicate the success on the other machines, even when I duplicate all of the actions I had done to the one successful machine.

At this point, at a loss for how to keep the employee's machines working until either Microsoft or QB issue a patch.

I am having the same issue, but also with ALL excel reports within Quickbooks.

I can generate a QB report and then export it to excel.

However, all the Excel reports within QB are not working.

We only have 10 days left to file state W-2s; QB needs to address this ASAP!

For any of us processing payroll, we will be unable to create the reports we need until this is fixed.

Thank you for visiting the QuickBooks Community, MikelKent. I can see how important it is to file state W-2s in QuickBooks Desktop without errors so that you can manage your taxes. Following the instructions below, I'll make sure you can view or generate all Excel reports from QBDT. Then, pointed you to the right support team to further assist you in managing your W2.

To start with, I recommend following the steps outlined above in order to generate a State W2 and file this form. If the problem persists, I suggest contacting our QuickBooks Support Team. They have the tools to access your account in a secure environment and investigate why you are unable to generate state W2 and resolve this as soon as possible. You can follow the instructions provided by my colleague on how to reach them.

On the other hand, I recommend clicking Enable Editing on the Excel page. This is to ensure that you can open the file correctly. Then, make sure that your Excel is updated to the latest version when opening an exported file QBDT.

Lastly, you may refer to this article to view info on how you can pull up a specific report that gives you the total payroll wages, taxes, deductions, and contributions: Create a payroll summary report in QuickBooks.

Let me know in the comment section if you have other questions about filing W2 or any QuickBooks concerns. I’ll get back to answer them for you, MikelKent. Have a good one.

Hi ChristieAnn,

I have tried the above and more.

Enabling content (when I can see that as an option) does not create the excel file.

There are different issues depending on the excel file that QB tries to create.

I cannot create any excel file from QB.

I have seen a Trusted Document issue, a Hidden module issue (qbDataConnect), etc.

I contacted QB Support and was on the phone for almost two hours yesterday with no resolution.

They instructed me to contact Microsoft. I did so today. They think it's a QB issue and I agree, because all my excel reports worked prior to upgrading/updating QB.

This issue needs elevated immediately! I am not the only person experiencing this problem.

I was on phone with QB for over an hour concerning this same State W2/Excel matter, no fix in any community post works.  I assume Intuit is working frantically to fix this so they aren't hit with the penalties we clients would incur for not filing state w2s on time.  At least in Ohio, we can still file paper W2s if less than 10 employees.  10 days to fix this!

Hi Phyll,

Did the person helping you recognize that it was an issue for everyone?

The person who helped me Friday did not say anything to indicate to me that QB was working on the problem.

I am glad Tabor accounting got one of their computers to generate the excel report from QB, but we do not all have their capabilities. And, I do not think we should have to be IT savvy to be able to force QB to work properly.

@Vs Bk  RE:I have updated my payroll files in all the versions I work on for my clients but still get error

That's odd, and others as well! I tried it here, using what I think is the latest W2 excel template, and didn't get a compile error.

What version of Excel are you using? Is it 32 bit or 64 bit (that might matter)?

If you'd like I can check out the version of the W-2 template file you have and see if it's different than mine and if it compiles for me. If interested, send me a request here along with the template, first put into a ZIP file: BRC Support Request

Note: The template is located in your QuickBooks programs files folder.  It is usually at C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks [version]\Components\Templates\State_W2.xlt

(or C:\Program Files (x86)\... for older QB versions.)

We are also having the same issue, they had me upgrade QB, IT reloaded 365, everything is up to date. QB will NOT generate, it is a QB issue!  After 3 hrs with support, they were supposed to call back today with a fix, no call nothing! Our reports will be late most likely, QB SLOW to fix, just like they never reimbursed anyone the penalty for filings last year for State that QB messed up. I think I will search for a new program, all this money and it clearly isn't working and follow up isn't as important as it should be.