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Critical Year-End Checklist for QuickBooks® Online Users in 2025

Ensure a seamless year-end transition by preparing well before December hits. As a user of QuickBooks® Online (QBO), prioritize structured, tax-ready bookkeeping and strategic planning. With evolving features and IRS attention, early preparation can save both time and reduce risks, setting a strong foundation for 2026.

1. Reconcile Accounts and Tidy Up Transactions

Navigate to Settings → Chart of Accounts → Reconcile. Align your ending bank and credit card statements, scrutinize Undeposited Funds, and verify that all pending items are addressed. QBO's intuitive guidance flags unreconciled entries to prevent April surprises.

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2. Analyze Customer & Vendor Aging Reports

Generate Accounts Receivable Aging and Accounts Payable Aging reports. Resolve any outstanding receivables and vendor payables to ensure your balance sheet and P&L statements accurately reflect your financials, eliminating delays in tax preparation.

3. Leverage Enhanced Reporting Features

QBO's "Modern View" of reports now offers improved filters, rapid load times, and extensive customization. Extract reports like Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Forecasts with enhanced efficiency. 

4. Establish and Monitor 1099/NEC for Contractors

For businesses employing freelancers or independent contractors, navigate to Expenses → Vendors → Prepare 1099s. Ensure W-9 forms are complete, track payment limits, and allow QBO to accurately categorize vendors. Skipping this can lead to costly penalties in Q1.

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5. Finalize and Validate Fiscal Settings

In Settings → Advanced, confirm your "First month of fiscal year". Proceed to close your books and freeze changes. This secures your year-end data, providing your tax advisor with pristine records.

6. Plan for 2026 and Enhance Cash Flow Management

Utilize QBO's Cash Flow forecasting to predict January-March 2026: assess potential revenue changes, tax payments, and seasonal expenses. Proactive preparation delivers clarity and confidence—beyond mere record-keeping.

7. Utilize Automation and New Tools

QBO's updates now include streamlined pay item management (inactive payroll items) and payroll document e-signatures. These tools boost efficiency and minimize error risks in advance of year-end demands. 

Ultimately, dedicating 30-60 minutes weekly for reconciliation, vendor/customer aging reviews, running updated reports, attending to contractor duties, and finalizing fiscal settings means commencing 2026 with clarity instead of chaos. QuickBooks® Online transcends mere transaction recording—it's about strategic readiness.

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