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LEARNING CENTER

Essential QuickBooks® Tasks for a Smooth Year-End 2025

As autumn unfolds and businesses gear up for the forthcoming 2026, the importance of closing the books accurately cannot be overstated. With evolving tax regulations and new QuickBooks® Online (QBO) features at your disposal, it's crucial to prioritize key tasks before December 31 to ensure a seamless transition into the 2025 tax season.

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1. Reconcile Financial Accounts

Eliminate discrepancies by visiting Settings > Chart of Accounts > Reconcile. Match every bank and credit card account to its respective statement and confirm the ending balances. Also, address any transactions lingering in the Undeposited Funds or Uncategorized categories. QBO's enhanced features now highlight unreconciled items to prevent unwelcome surprises.

2. Audit Customer and Vendor Balances

Initiate aging reports for both Accounts Receivable Aging and Accounts Payable Aging. Promptly send statements to customers with pending invoices. Consider writing off any overdue or uncollectible bills with judicious accounting principles. Reviewing vendor balances ensures that nothing is overlooked.

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3. Wrap Up Year-End Reports

Produce and examine your Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Trial Balance for the entire year. Search for anomalies such as negative balances or unusually high figures. Utilize filters by class or location to detect irregularities.

4. Manage 1099s and Contractor Details

Ensure all contractors are correctly flagged for 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC. Within QBO, navigate to Expenses → Vendors → Prepare 1099s to verify addresses, gather W-9s, and confirm payments. Precise data entry today saves IRS headaches tomorrow.

5. Execute Final Adjustments and Close Accounts

This includes making adjustments for depreciation, amortization, bad debts, owner draws, and retained earnings. Properly set your fiscal year settings in Settings→ Advanced to delineate the concluding period. Close your books post-adjustment to prevent inadvertent changes.

6. Update Payroll and Employee Information

Especially if leveraging QuickBooks® Online Payroll, complete the following before year-end:

  • Process the final payroll, accounting for bonuses and incentives.

  • Verify all benefits, fringe payments, and retirement contributions are logged correctly.

  • Review and update employee records (addresses, SSNs, W-4 changes).

  • Preview and rectify W-2 forms prior to filing.

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7. Utilize Cutting-edge QuickBooks® Features

In 2025, QuickBooks® introduced new automation features, enhanced categorization rules, and interface upgrades. If you're yet to enable these tools, now is the time, particularly for firms utilizing QuickBooks® Online Accountant for client management.

Bonus Insight:

Employ QBO’s cash-flow projection capabilities or execute a "budget vs. actual" analysis to identify potential financial gaps. If unforeseen expenses or reduced revenue marked your 2025, strategize by setting aside reserves or recalibrating estimated tax payments early on.

A proactive approach to year-end preparation, encompassing account reconciliation, balance review, tax form completion, payroll updates, and adoption of QuickBooks® advancements, sets the stage for a prosperous 2026. Thoughtful preparation today yields long-term benefits.

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