file forms not showing

Thanks for asking the Community today, @dulrich. I'm with you in fixing the issue when viewing filed forms in payroll. 

As our initial step, let's check your payroll service subscription to ensure your payroll is active and the service key is correct. Here's how: 

1. Close all your company files and restart your computer.
2. Launch QuickBooks, then go to Employees. 
3. Select My Payroll Service, then click Manage Service Key.
4. Your Service Name and Status should be correct and will show as Active.
5. Click Edit, and verify the service key number. Enter the correct service key if it's incorrect.
6. Click Next, then uncheck the Open Payroll Setup box.
7. Click Finish.

It will now download the entire payroll update. Press F2 on your keyboard to open Product Information, then check if it says Activated beside the license number.

If it's not Activated, register your QuickBooks Desktop. Then, follow the steps to update QuickBooks to the latest release and Download the latest payroll tax table update. 

If the issue persists, I'd suggest you run the Verify and Rebuild tool to identify common problems within your company file.

Know that I'm always here to guide you should you need more assistance in viewing your filed payroll forms. Take care!

I am not having issues with filed forms.  The ones I have already filed show up just fine. The FORMS that you select to prepare for filing are not showing up. 

Hello there, @dulrich.

Let's download and install the latest payroll update so you can process payroll forms in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) Payroll.

QBDT Payroll provides payroll updates that include the most current and accurate rates and calculations for supported state and federal tax tables, payroll tax forms, and e-file and pay options. You may have the outdated payroll tax table. That's why your payroll forms for filing are not showing up. 

Before doing so, please make sure you have an active QuickBooks Payroll subscription and an updated QuickBooks release version. To get the latest payroll tax table update, here's how:

1. Go to Employees.
2. Select Get Payroll Updates.
3. Click the Download entire payroll update button.
4. Select Update or Download Latest Update. An informational window appears when the download is complete.

You can read this article to find more information on the latest payroll update in QBDT: Get the latest payroll news and updates in QuickBooks Desktop Payroll.

Also, you may want to check out this article as your reference to guide you in e-filing your forms and e-paying federal taxes in QBDT Payroll: E-file and e-pay federal forms and taxes in QuickBooks Desktop.

Let me know if you have other payroll concerns or questions about filing forms and managing employees in QBDT Payroll. I'm always ready to help. Take care, and I wish you continued success, @dulrich.

Rea,

I have done that.  I downloaded it yesterday and yet this morning when I go it it tells me I have not downloaded anything in 29 days.  That is not accurate.  I know the steps to finally getting the forms to show up but that is not what I am asking.  WHY DOES IT KEEP HAPPENING?  It is a pain to have to close and reopen several times every time I need to file payroll taxes.

Hi there, dulrich.

I appreciate you for coming back to the thread and adding extra details about your concern and for performing some steps to resolve your issue. Also, I understand that things have been challenging for you and that it's not the sort of experience we want you to have when filing payroll tax. With this, I'll ensure you'll be routed to the right support team to assist you further with this matter so you can file your forms accurately.

 I recommend contacting our QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Team. They have the tools to pull up your account which is needed in investigating the cause of the issue. They can also provide possible reasons why the problem keeps happening.

Here's how to reach them:

1. Open QuickBooks.
2. Go to Help and select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
3. Select Contact Us.
4. Give a brief description of your issue and choose Continue.
5. Sign in to your Intuit account and select Continue and Continue with my account.
6. We'll email you a single-use code. Enter your code and select Continue.
7. Select to chat with us or Have us call you.

You can also browse this article to see extra details on how to contact our Payroll Team: Contact Payroll Support.

Lastly, you may refer to this article to view steps on how you can easily e-file your federal tax forms and e-pay your federal taxes electronically to make sure you stay compliant with the IRS: E-file and e-pay federal forms and taxes in QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Enhanced.

I'm just a post away if you have any other concerns about filing payroll forms or any issue while working with QuickBooks. I'll be happy to help you out. Take care always, dulrich.

RE: I cannot see any form under "File Forms" in payroll. Anyone else have this issue and how do i fix it?

The way this is supposed to work is QuickBooks will automatically show all the forms you may need to use based on your payroll data. Then, from that list you can hide forms you don't want or need, and also show forms you don't appear to need - for example, forms for states for which you have no payroll data.

Some customers have a misconception of this list and as a result they hide the form after they file it, expecting it to come back next quarter or year. But that won't happen. Once hidden, the form stays hidden until you make it active again.

Could that be what you're seeing? Did someone perhaps hide the forms after last filing them?

RE: I know the steps to finally getting the forms to show up but that is not what I am asking.

Do you mean the steps above, and that you can make the forms reappear by picking the "Make a new form active" from the Forms button in your image?

RE: WHY DOES IT KEEP HAPPENING?

In more detail, what is "it" that keeps happening, exactly?  For example, are the forms all listed one day and then they all mysteriously disappear the next?

RE: It is a pain to have to close and reopen several times every time I need to file payroll taxes.

Do you mean the closing your company file and reopening it suddenly makes the expected list of forms appear? Something else? Specifics may help.

Could that be what you're seeing? Did someone perhaps hide the forms after last filing them? NO - WE HAVE NOT INACTIVATED ANY FORMS.

Do you mean the steps above, and that you can make the forms reappear by picking the "Make a new form active" from the Forms button in your image?  I WAS REFERRING TO THE STEPS THAT WERE OUTLINED IN A PREVIOUS RESPONSE. 

In more detail, what is "it" that keeps happening, exactly?  For example, are the forms all listed one day and then they all mysteriously disappear the next? YES ALL THE FORMS WILL SHOW ONE DAY AND THEN THE NEXT TIME THEY WILL NOT. 

Do you mean the closing your company file and reopening it suddenly makes the expected list of forms appear? Something else? Specifics may help. TO GET THE FORMS TO SHOW I SOMETIMES NOT ONLY HAVE TO PERFORM THE STEPS REFERENCED ABOVE BUT I HAVE TO CLOSE QB AND REOPEN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN NAVIGATE BACK TO THE FORMS TAB IN PAYROLL. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND SOMETIMES ONLY ONCE. 

It sounds like there's some sort of issue that happens at startup, where forms don't load.  I don't know what might cause that.

Usually I'd recommend resetting the payroll updates and starting over, but it appears you've been doing that. So, I'm not sure what will fix it.

This happens many times , no logic why 

I wish you didn't have to go through that, nnsangoi.

Let me make it up to you by ensuring this gets investigated.

I'd recommend contacting our QuickBooks Support Team. They have full access to your account and help you locate the forms. They can also determine its main cause to ensure it won't happen again. Here's how:

1. Go to the Help menu.
2. Select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Click Contact Us.
4. Give a brief description of your issue.
5. Once done, click Message Us or Let's talk.

Also, make sure your payroll tax table is up-to-date. This ensures accurate rates and calculations for federal and supported state taxes, payroll tax forms, and e-file and e-pay options. 

Additionally, I've added these articles that'll help find information on the latest payroll update (22302) as well as earlier release updates:

• Year-end Checklist for QuickBooks Desktop Payroll
• Get the Latest Payroll News and Updates in QuickBooks Desktop

Please keep us posted if you have other payroll concerns or if you need assistance with your tax forms. We're always here to help you out.