I've got you, @JBS.
I can see the importance of starting 2024 with a clean and organized Chart of Accounts (COA), @JBS. Rest assured that I'm here to help you achieve that.
To begin, yes, you can make an account inactive if you don't plan to use those accounts anymore in QuickBooks Online (QBO). However, before taking any action, I recommend consulting with your accountant or financial advisor before making any changes to ensure you're adhering to appropriate accounting practices.
Here's how to make an account inactive:
- Click on the Gear icon, then Chart of accounts.
- Find the account you want to delete.
- Select the Action dropdown and select Make inactive.
Moreover, please be aware that some accounts cannot be made inactive as they are default accounts created during QuickBooks setup, such as the Undeposited Funds (also called Payments to Deposit). You can refer to this article to find out other special accounts that can't be made active: Manage default and special accounts in your QuickBooks Online chart of accounts.
With that being said, you're right that you can also consider merging duplicate accounts with your newly uploaded file so that transactions of your old account will be transferred to the new one.
However, before proceeding to the merging process, ensure that you are absolutely sure about it, as merging accounts is permanent and cannot be undone later on. Please refer to this article for more detailed steps: Merge duplicate accounts, customers, and vendors in QuickBooks Online.
You can also check out this article about the importance of opening balances: Enter and manage opening balances in QuickBooks Online. This includes steps on how you can edit incorrect opening balances.
Furthermore, I have included a guide to help ensure that your QuickBooks accounts align with your real-life accounts: Learn the reconcile workflow in QuickBooks.
Keep us posted if you have further questions about managing your COA in QBO. I'll be back with you as soon as possible.
