New Update makes E-pay Mandatory!?!?!?!

I am having the same issue. Last time I did payroll the amount due and date for state employment was there.

Now after my last payroll of 4/16/2020 it was gone and when I went in to fix this it made me use only the e-pay prompt. I don't want to e-pay, I want to e-file. Please help me to figure out how to change this.

Hello, deniseacctsolutions and 0118.

I also get upset if I'm forced to use a method that I don't want. To make this up for you, I'm here to help you fix the error message and help you manage your paid taxes in QuickBooks. 

QuickBooks' e-pay settings for Virginia is set for E-pay only under the Manage Filing Methods page. You can turn this off, however. On your last post, I see that you've opted not to use our e-pay services. 

Instead of going to the Manage Filing Methods screen, you'll want to go to the Change Filing Method and Change Payment Method pages. This'll turn off the e-payment setup and fix the error message. 

Here's how: 

1. Go to Employees, then select Payroll Center.
2. Go to the File Forms tab. 
3. At the bottom, click Change Filing Method.
4. Select the unemployment tax, then click Edit.
5. Change the filing method.
6. Click Finish.

For the E-payment, go to the Pay Liabilities tab then click the Change Payment Method link. 

After changing the payment and filing methods, you'll want to view the VA state unemployment form again. 

Since you've already paid the taxes, you'll also want to enter a prior payment history event. This article can guide you through the process: Enter historical tax payments in Desktop payroll.

If you need help creating the next paychecks, you can check this article for the steps: How do I create a paycheck for an employee?.

I'm all ears if you have more concerns for your payroll service. Just reply here and I'll be there to help you out. 

Thank you for your response.  That's the problem.  It won't let me change it.  When I go to Change Filing Method, the VA Unemployment is grayed out and won't even let you click on it to Edit.  When I go to change Payment Method, and select VA Unemployment, the "check" option is no longer there.  E-pay is the only option available, just E-pay with the little circle filled in next to it and nothing happens when I try to click on it.  I was on chat with "Premium" Support for 3 hours earlier and they didn't fix anything either.

 Once I reached the choose filing methods, I have the choice of filing methods and enrollments.

When I click on filing methods, I do not a listing for unemployment tax to choose from.

If I choose enrollments, here it just gives me the enrollment information for unemployment taxes and

states I do not have to enroll to e-file. I am already set in IReg to pay unemployment taxes there.

It is when I completed the new payroll update that all this started. The unemployment information disappeared from the liabilities page with a message stating that I had missing information. When I corrected that I only had the option to choose e-pay and now I can not change anything. The only place I can currently see any information for unemployment taxes is under pay liabilities and there the only option available is the e-pay

QuickBooks Desktop makes it easy for your to record your payroll tax, 0118.

You'll have to make sure that you have an active QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Enhanced account and a supported version of QuickBooks Desktop so you'll be able to see the option.

If you're still unable to see the option to change, you can go to the Payroll Setup window and change it from there. I've attached a screenshot so you can be guided visually: 

Once done, manually create a liability check. Here's how:

1. Go to the Employees menu, then select Payroll Center.
2. Select the Pay Liabilities tab.
3. Under Other Activities, select Create Custom Payments.
4. In the Select Date Range for Liabilities window, select a date range, then OK.
   Note: Liabilities are accrued on the date the paycheck is issued, not on the pay period of the check.
5. Select To be printed if you want to print the liability check. If you paid using a handwritten check, leave this clear.
6. Select the bank account and the date you want to appear on the liability check.
7. Choose either Review your liability check to enter expenses/penalties or Create a liability check without reviewing.
8. Select the payroll item you want to pay, then select Create. Note that if you select multiple payroll items, the items paid to the same agency are combined into one liability check while items paid to separate agencies produce multiple liability checks. Make sure the check amount and item list under Payroll Liabilities are accurate.
9. If you choose Review your liability check to enter expenses/penalties, a liability check appears. If you didn’t, you can view the liability check in the check register.
10. Make sure the date and amounts are correct, then select Print if you want to print the check. If you used a handwritten check, enter the check number or other reference in the NO. field. If you pay liabilities by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), clear the To Be Printed checkbox and type EFT in the NO. field of the liability check.
11. Go to the Expenses tab if you want to enter expenses/penalties on the liability check.
12. From the Account field drop-down, select the expense account you use to track payroll expenses and penalties, then enter the amount in the Amount column.
13. Select Recalculate. Make sure the amount on the liability check includes the expense or penalty.
14. Select Save & Close.

Please read this article for more information: Set up and pay scheduled or custom (unscheduled) liabilities.

You may also want to view and print your payroll tax forms after you have filed them: 

• Print, save, and email copies of filed tax forms using Adobe Reader
• View and print payroll tax forms
  
  

Feel free to let us know if you have any other concerns with payroll. Remember, we've always made sure to get your back. 

Thank you

I am running Quick Books Desktop Pro Plus 21 and under Payroll there is a green check by Enhanced Payroll.

V31.0D R4 01/16/2021

DB Engine 17.0.4.2182

Payroll version 04122145

Tax version 22109

It would seem that I am current on all of this.

When I did the latest payroll up 04/16/2021 is when I had all the problems. When the box came up indicating that there was missing information I followed the instructions as the unemployment tax information was now missing from the liabilities section. Once I got the information on the liabilities page after being forced to use the e-pay option, the amount is correct for the current quarter and the date is correct. However, it is showing e-pay and I do not want this as e-pay. Also, you can no longer mail forms to the VEC. As of January 1st of 2021 all forms have to be done on line. I currently use the IReg log in to process this. I have processed and paid my VEC taxes for the first quarter. I am trying to fix the mess now so that I can pay the second quarter tax to VEC when I want in July.

Thanks for getting back to this thread, @0118.

I've also replicated the same steps in my QuickBooks Desktop account. After updating my payroll tax table, I can still change my filing method for the state of Virginia. 

Since you're experiencing this kind of unexpected behavior, I'd recommend running some basic troubleshooting steps. There might be a minor data damage in your company file that's causing this issue.

To clear this out, let's run the Verify and Rebuild Data tools. These tools will help us in identifying the most commonly known data issues and fix them. Here's how:

1. Choose Window and select Close All.
2. Click File, then select Utilities. 
3. Choose Verify Data. 

If you see "Your data has lost integrity," indicates there is data damage in the file. Continue the steps and run the Rebuild Data tool to correct the problem.

If you're still getting a similar result, run the repair tool for QuickBooks Desktop for Windows.

However, if the issue persists, I'd recommend reaching out to our Customer Support Team. They will help you in identifying the issue and fix it so you can print and file your taxes. 

Let me know how it goes by commenting below. I'll be here to further assist you, have a good one.

Thanks so much for replying Reymond, but the tax you are showing is VA Income tax.... the VA-5, VA-6, VA-15, and VA-16 are all withholding taxes and those are fine.  It's the VA Unemployment that I'm having this problem with.  Can you check your system to see if you can get an option other than e-pay on VA Unemployment for the Virginia Employment Commission?  I've run verify, repair, and rebuild, and it didn't fix anything.  It's also happened across ALL the VA companies that I do, so it's really going to be a problem.  I so appreciate you taking the time to replicate this on your system, so if you can check the VA unemployment, that would be fantastic.

I've also already contacted Customer Support.  I am a Pro-Advisor with Premium support access and I spent 3 hours on chat yesterday with no positive results.  I'm reaching out via the Community because I'm at a loss.  I've been a certified pro-advisor for nearly 20 years, so I'm very familiar with QuickBooks, but I can't find a work around at all for this one.

It has to be something coming from the latest payroll update.  I just did a client's quarterlies that sends me a backup to restore.  When I restored their backup and went to do the VA unemployment, the message to update the payroll came up, and I chose SKIP this time instead of installing the payroll update - and it worked.  I was able to access the VEC forms just like always before.  So, the change is definitely a result of the payroll update, but I don't know how to roll that back and I know that my payroll service needs the updates, so....???

Thank you for your input. The tax information I am having difficulties with is the FC-20 which is the unemployment tax. All of the other tax forms are there and have the correct setting.  I did the Data Verification and it stated that quick books detected no problems with the Data. So I honestly do not know what to do to correct this situation. I suppose my next step is the Customer Support Team.

Thank you for the update, Denise.

Since the payroll update affects the calculation and causes this error, I would recommend reaching out to our QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Support. This way, a live representative can take a look into your payroll settings and investigate why it happens after updating your payroll tax table.

1.  Open your QuickBooks Desktop to connect with us.
2. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Select Contact Us.
4. Enter your concern, then select Continue.
5. Choose a way to connect with support.

@0118, yes. You can reach out to our Support Team as well. Our agent can review this further and set the desired filing or payment status of your taxes. Support is available M-F 6 AM to 6 PM PT for Basic, Enhanced, or Standard Payroll.

On the other hand, you can check out these links for more hints about paying and filing taxes in QuickBooks Desktop:

• Set up and pay scheduled or custom (unscheduled) liabilities 

If you have any other follow-up questions, let me know by adding a comment below. I'm more than happy to help. Keep safe!

I am attempting to chat with some one and so far it has not be much help. I am trying to chat with someone and there seems to be an issue with the chat system. I suppose I will need to wait and till Monday and try to call.

I'm here to ensure you're able to get in touch with our Live Support Team without a moment's delay, @0118.

Are you getting any sort of error message when trying to contact our chat support? As an alternative, you can connect to our representatives through a web browser of any device. Make sure to turn on the internet connection. 

Follow these steps below:

1. Go to the Learn and Support page.
2. Choose QuickBooks Desktop as the product, then click the Continue as a guest button.
3. Select your QuickBooks version.
4. Enter your concern in the description field, then click Search.
5. Choose a way to connect with support.

Visit us again should you have other concerns or questions. The Community has got your back. 

I followed your instructions but now there is a new problem.  The VA UI does not show up on the list to Change the filing and payment methods screen!  What do I do now?

Nancy Dixon

I followed  your directions, but when I got to the screen listing the forms VA UI doesn't show up! Now what?

I am having the same issue now, and I am on chat with someone trying to figure it out. In VA also. How they can change our filing method preferences without a prompt during an update is ridiculous. If anyone finds out how to correct this that would be helpful.

Hi there, Nancy 323Dixon.

I can share some troubleshooting steps that can help fix this issue.

First, you'll want to make sure that your QuickBooks Desktop and payroll tax table are up-to-date so you always have the latest security patches and bug fixes. Once done, go back to the Change Payment/Filing Method window again and make the necessary changes.

However, if you're still unable to change the filing and payment method for the state of Virginia Unemployment Insurance. I'd recommend getting in touch with your technical supports so we pull up and your account in a secure environment and review your payroll settings. Here's how:

1. Open QuickBooks.
2. Go to the Help menu, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Select Contact Us.
4. Enter "Unable to change filing method." in the description box.
5. Click Let's talk and then choose a way to connect.

I also encourage reading this article to help stay compliant with your state payroll tax regulations: Virginia Payroll Tax Compliance.

Do let me know in the comment section if you need more help in accomplishing your other payroll tasks. I'll always have your back.

Thank you,

I have spent the last 3 plus hours on the phone as every piece of information I have been given has not fixed this issue. 

the rep that I talked with went out of her way to help me fix this issue and talked to everyone she could find to fix this issue and the only solution that we have is go around another way to possibly be able to accomplish what I wanted to do. I will now just have to wait until the second quarter ends to see if the information I have will work.

thanks to all who tried to help.

Also in Virginia and having the same issues. Intuit's timing is terrible.

Also in Virginia - When will a new payroll update be created to fix this problem caused by payroll update 22109?

I am a Pro Advisor in Virginia and having the same issue after updating my payroll.

Thank you for posting your experiences on this thread, kjq, and kayebookspro.

QuickBook releases payroll updates throughout the year. They're necessary to keep your payroll compliant with the federal and state tax agencies.

However, we cant provide a specific date for the next update to be released. You can also follow these steps to check for the tax table version you are using.

Here's how:

1. Go to Employees.
2. Select Get Payroll Updates.
3. Check the number next to “You are using tax table version:”.
4. To see more details on the tax table version, click Payroll Update Info.

Also, check out this article for more info about payroll updates: Latest payroll news and updates

Feel free to post in the Community if you still have questions and clarification about payroll. I'd be glad to help. Have a great week!

Thank you Archie_B for trying to help. I noticed that throughout this thread there are many "canned" answers but no one seems to be paying attention to the actual problem that many on this thread are having. After update #22109 was installed we are no longer able to change the filing or payment methods for the Virginia Unemployment Liability. There is no way to change the filing method to print so there is no way to change the payment method to check. My company already files and pays electronically via the Virginia Dept. of Taxation website. We prefer not to pay through QuickBooks. Screen shots are attached which I hope will clarify what the problem is and that a fix will be provided before the quarterly filing and payment deadline.