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Year-end guide for QuickBooks Online

by Intuit•17• Updated 2 days ago

Learn how to close your previous financial year and prepare for the new one in QuickBooks Online.

Review your books, run reports, and prepare your tax returns with your accountant. This helps you balance financial transactions and get your business ready for the coming year.

Check when your accounting period starts.

  1. Go to Settings Settings gear icon., then select Account and settings.
  2. Select Advanced.
  3. In the Accounting section, select the First month of financial year â–Ľ dropdown, then select the month you start your financial year.
  4. Select Save, then select Done.
  1. Go to Settings Settings gear icon. and select Account and settings.
  2. Select Advanced.
  3. In the Accounting section, select the pencil icon ✎.
  4. Select the First month of financial year â–Ľ dropdown, then select the month where you start your financial year.
  5. Select Save, then select Done.

Make sure your customer’s info is up to date.

  1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product Open this link in a new window
  2. In the Find report by name â–Ľ dropdown, select Accounts receivable ageing summary or Accounts receivable ageing detail.
    Note: These reports are only available in QuickBooks Online Advanced, QuickBooks Online Plus, and QuickBooks Online Essentials.
  3. Review the report and check for outstanding balances.
    Note: If you find outstanding balances, create and send a statement to the customer.
  1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product Open this link in a new window
  2. Select the Type report name here â–Ľ dropdown.
  3. Search for and select the Accounts receivable ageing summary or Accounts receivable ageing detail report.
    Note: These reports are only available in QuickBooks Online Advanced, QuickBooks Online Plus, and QuickBooks Online Essentials.
  4. Review the report and check for outstanding balances.
    Note: If you find outstanding balances, create and send a statement to the customer.

Clear any outstanding bank deposits from your deposit queue. Record and create bank deposits if there are still payments in the undeposited funds account. This helps you record all your payments in the correct bank register. 

Clear any outstanding bank deposits from your deposit queue. Record and create bank deposits if there are still payments in the undeposited funds account. This helps you record all your payments in the correct bank account history. 

Note: QuickBooksincludes undeposited funds in the income. You still need to move the funds to the bank register that receives the payments or deposits.

Note: QuickBooks includes undeposited funds in the income. You still need to move the funds to the bank account history that receives the payments or deposits.

Review your supplier account balances and check if you have any outstanding bills.

  1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product Open this link in a new window
  2. In the Find report by name â–Ľ dropdown, select Accounts payable ageing summary or Accounts payable ageing detail.
    Note: These reports are only available in QuickBooks Online Advanced, QuickBooks Online Plus, and QuickBooks Online Essentials.
  3. Review the report, then check for any outstanding bills.
    Note: You can make bill payments to settle any outstanding bills to your suppliers.
  1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product Open this link in a new window
  2. Select the Type report name here â–Ľ dropdown.
  3. Search for and select the Accounts payable ageing summary or Accounts payable ageing detail report.
    Note: These reports are only available in QuickBooks Online Advanced, QuickBooks Online Plus, and QuickBooks Online Essentials.
  4. Review the report, then identify the outstanding bills.
    Note: You can make bill payments to settle any outstanding bills to your suppliers.

Run reports to identify issues and check for discrepancies. Here's how.

  1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product Open this link in a new window
  2. Select Create management report, then enter a name in the Management report name field. 
  3. Fill out info as needed.
  4. Select Reports and charts. 
  5. Enter Balance Sheet in the Report â–Ľ dropdown. Then, select a date range in the Report period field.
  6. In the Add ▼ dropdown, select Report. 
  7. Enter Profit and Loss in the Report â–Ľ dropdown. Then, select a date range in the Report period field.
  8. Select Save and Close.
  1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product Open this link in a new window.
  2. Select + Management report, then enter a name in the Management report name field. 
  3. Fill out info as needed.
  4. Select Reports and charts. 
  5. Enter Balance Sheet in the Report â–Ľ dropdown. Then, select a date range from the â–Ľ dropdown showing the report period.
    Note: If the field to select the report period is not visible, select the pencil icon Image of the edit icon..
  6. From the Add ▼ dropdown, select Report. 
  7. Enter Profit and Loss in the Report â–Ľ dropdown. Then, select a date range from the â–Ľ dropdown showing the report period.
    Note: If the field to select the report period is not visible, select the pencil icon Image of the edit icon..
  8. Select Save and Close.

Note: If your current net income doesn’t match what’s in your reports, here are the possible reasons and recommended solutions.

You can check and run other reports as needed. You can also create a management report to see how much you’ve made.

If needed, your accountant can help you distribute retained earnings among partners.

Set up an owner’s equity and draws account to track payments and withdrawals over the year.

Your accountant can help you with your year-end process. If you haven’t invited them yet, you can add your accountant to QuickBooks Online. This lets them prepare and file taxes on your behalf.

Your accountant can help you with your year-end process. If you haven’t invited them yet, you can add your accountant to QuickBooks Online. This lets them prepare and file VAT on your behalf.

If needed, your accountant can review your accounts and reclassify transactions. They can also manage your transactions to help you organise your books.

After you review all of your financial data, you can close your books for the year-end. This prevents unwanted changes that may affect your reports before filing your VAT.

QuickBooks LedgerQuickBooks Online AccountantQuickBooks Online EssentialsQuickBooks Online PlusQuickBooks Online Simple Start