I get an error message when trying to update existing transactions in the payroll settings. Close the books feature is not enabled.

Hi there, @randy-lunadelive.

Yes, updating the transaction detail of an entry recorded in the past will make changes to future dates but not the existing records. Here's an article you may find helpful while working with your payroll settings: How to Manage your Payroll Accounting Settings to track your Payroll Transactions?

I'm adding this reference for tips and the important dates to remember in preparation for the coming year-end: Complete Certain Tasks in QuickBooks Online Payroll to Prepare for the New Fiscal or Calendar Year.

Let me know in the comments below if you've got questions about your payroll accounting in QuickBooks. I'll surely be around ready to lend a hand. Take care always!

I am having the same issue. 

JonpriL, QuickBooks clearly states that they can "Update accounting preferences for past transactions according to current preference settings."

Go to: 

gear icon

Payroll  settings

accounting 

update existing transactions 

        Update accounting preferences for past transactions according to current preference settings. 

I have done this slowly for a year worth of time, but now I get the error "there are too many transactions to update all at once. Please change your starting date or ending date." 

Weird because I am only trying to update one day (before it would let me update a month's worth of transactions at once.) and there weren't even any transactions on that day that it decided to stop updating the transactions. 

I have tried restarting the browser, using a different browser, deleting the cache, restarting the computer, and giving it time. 

Do any experts have any tips?

Thanks, 

Emily 

Hello there, @EmmyJ. Welcome to the Community.

Let's enter a journal entry so you can update past transactions according to current payroll accounting preferences in QuickBooks Online (QBO).

When the system identified you're modifying more than the allotted number of transactions (on a specific date) after changing your accounting preferences, it'll automatically display the said error message. With this, you'll have to enter a journal entry to transfer your transactions from the old account to the new one. To do this, I encourage you to consult your accountant. They can provide expert advice tailored to your business needs.

Whenever you're ready, here's how:

1. Go to the + New button.
2. Select Journal entry.
3. On the first line, select an account from the Account field. Depending on if you need to debit or credit the account, enter the amount in the correct column.
4. On the next line, select the other account you're moving money to or from. Depending on if you entered a debit or credit on the first line, enter the same amount in the opposite column.
5. Check the amounts - you should have the same amount in the Credit column on one line and the Debit column on the other. This means the accounts are in balance.
6. Enter information in the memo section so you know why you made the journal entry.
7. Select Save and new or Save and close.

If you wish to learn a few reasons to create a journal entry, you can refer to this article: Create a journal entry in QuickBooks Online.

Also, you may want to check out this article as your reference to guide you in wrapping up last year's payroll and preparing for the next with QBO Payroll: Year-end checklist for QuickBooks Online Payroll.

If you have other payroll concerns or questions about managing employee transactions in QBO, I'm always ready to help. Take care, and have a great day, @EmmyJ.