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Essential Year-End Preparations in QuickBooks® Online for 2025

Initiating a seamless year-end close starts before December hits the calendar. With QuickBooks® Online, it’s time to move from frantic last-minute dashes to organized, tax-ready bookkeeping and planning. With enhanced features and increased IRS scrutiny, setting up early can save time, mitigate risks, and set the stage for 2026.

1. Reconcile and Organize Your Accounts

Navigate to Settings → Chart of Accounts → Reconcile. Synchronize your ending bank and credit-card statements, review Undeposited Funds, and ensure all outstanding items are settled. QuickBooks® Online’s intuitive guidance highlights unreconciled items to avoid surprises come April. Image 1

2. Scrutinize Customer & Vendor Aging Reports

Generate Accounts Receivable Aging and Accounts Payable Aging reports. Resolve any lingering receivables and vendor bills to ensure accurate financials on your profit-and-loss and balance sheets, preventing tax preparation delays.

3. Harness the Enhanced Reporting Features

QBO's “Modern View” report suite offers superior filters, faster load times, and custom options. These upgrades enable efficient reporting on Profit & Loss, Balance Sheets, and Cash Flow Forecasts. [For more information, click here.](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/product-update/whats-new-in-quickbooks-online-november-2024/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4. Prepare and Track 1099/NEC Forms for Contractors

For businesses employing freelancers or independent contractors, go to Expenses → Vendors → Prepare 1099s. Ensure all W-9s are collected, payment thresholds monitored, and vendors appropriately flagged. Skipping this process can lead to expensive corrections and penalties in Q1.

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5. Secure the Books & Confirm Fiscal Settings

In Settings → Advanced, verify your “First month of fiscal year.” Issue closing balances and prevent alterations to your year-end data, ensuring the handover of clean books to your tax preparer.

6. Plan for 2026 and Strengthen Cash-Flow Resilience

Utilize QBO's Cash Flow projections to anticipate revenue fluctuations, tax schedules, and seasonal expenses in early 2026. Forward planning fosters resilience and not merely closing out the prior year's accounts. Image 2

7. Enhance Efficiency with Automation and New Tools

QBO’s latest updates offer easy payroll item management and e-signature capabilities, reducing manual errors and maximizing efficiency for year-end operations. [Learn more about the updates here.](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/product-update/whats-new-in-quickbooks-online-november-2024/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Main takeaway: Dedicating 30-60 minutes per week to reconcile accounts, scrutinize aging reports, generate current reports, track contractor details, and finalize fiscal settings means ushering in 2026 with order and foresight. QuickBooks® Online transcends mere transaction recording—it's about strategic positioning for future success.

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