Old bills and payments

I can share some help so you can link your bill transactions in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT), cfoland.

In QBDT,  if you're on an accrual basis, we'll need to create a credit memo and assign the same expense account or A/P that was assigned to the original bills. Afterward, we can apply the credit memos to the unpaid bills.

Here's how:

Step 1: Create a Vendor Credit

1. Go to the Vendors, then click Enter Bills.
2. You can create a Bill or Credit, tick the Credit at the upper side.
3. From the Vendor dropdown, choose the vendor's name.
4. In the Expenses tab, click the Account dropdown, then select an expense account or A/P associated with the bill.
5. Enter the same amount from your bill in the Amount column.
6. Fill out the Customer: Job column.
7. Once done, click Save & Close.

Step 2: Apply the Vendor Credit to the open bills

1. Go to the Vendors menu, then choose Pay Bills.
2. Tick the bill transaction.
3. In the Discount & Credit Information for Highlighted Bill section, click the Set Credits button.
4. In the Discount and Credits dialog box, tick open bill, then click Done.
5. After reviewing everything, click Pay Selected Bills.

Aside from creating vendor credits, we can write off vendor balances by making a journal entry and choosing the appropriate accounts. Afterward, we can apply this to the existing debit/credit.

Additionally, it's best to consult your accountant to ensure accuracy and proper recording of transactions.

Furthermore, you can access this material in case you'd like to run a Vendor Balance Detail and customize it according to your preference: How to run and customize reports in QuickBooks Desktop.

Please let me know if you have further questions regarding bills, cfoland. I'll be around to assist you.

Ok, I can do all that for the bills. What about the payments?? Checks were issued with notating the invoice so they are open as well??

Link the open bill payment and bill using Pay Bills.  The open bill payment will appear as an available credit. Apply that credit to the bill and then they won't appear as unpaid/open anymore.

@IrizA  RE: In QBDT, If you're on a cash basis, the transactions can be deleted since a cash basis doesn't have Accounts Payable (A/P).

What? That is nonsense. Worse than nonsense and terrible accounting advise. The entire point of cash basis reporting in QuickBooks is to convert A/P and A/R activity to cash from the default accrual. That is the only thing it does.