Essential 2025 QuickBooks® Year-End Actions for Success

As fall approaches and entrepreneurs begin strategizing for 2026, recognizing the importance of meticulously closing the 2025 books can pave the way for a successful year ahead. With dynamic tax regulations and the introduction of new QuickBooks® Online (QBO) enhancements, prioritizing these end-of-year tasks is crucial for a streamlined tax season and business efficacy.

1. Reconcile Bank and Credit Card Accounts

Avoid unnecessary discrepancies in Settings > Chart of Accounts > Reconcile by meticulously matching your accounts with statements, verifying ending balances, and addressing any entries found in Undeposited Funds or Uncategorized categories. Leverage QBO’s features to flag unreconciled items, diminishing the risk of oversight.

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2. Analyze Customer and Vendor Balances

Execute comprehensive aging reports like Accounts Receivable Aging and Accounts Payable Aging. Issuing statements to clients with pending invoices is vital. Consider writing off uncollectible bills responsibly. Verify vendor accounts to ensure no missed entries.

3. Compile and Review Year-End Reports

Utilize full-year reports including Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Trial Balance to evaluate financial health. Anomalies such as negative balances require attention. Use class or location-based filters to discover variance anomalies.

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4. Complete 1099 and Contractor Verification

Ensure all contractors are appropriately flagged for 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC in Expenses > Vendors > Prepare 1099s. Confirm addresses, W-9s, and payments are current to avoid IRS complications.

5. Execute Final Adjustments and Close Books

This involves considerations such as depreciation and bad debt adjustments. Verify your fiscal year settings in Settings→ Advanced. Post-adjustment closure of books is critical to maintain records' integrity.

6. Revise Payroll and Employee Documentation

If utilizing QuickBooks® Online Payroll, ensure end-of-year payroll processes include final pays, bonus and commission management, and retirement contribution recording. Reassess employee data, including W-4 details and preview W-2 forms for accuracy before submission.

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7. Optimize New QuickBooks® Features

The 2025 enhancements in automation and categorization rules in QuickBooks® should be deployed, especially across multiple managed clients using QuickBooks® Online Accountant.

Bonus Suggestion:

Utilize QBO’s cash-flow projections or “budget vs. actual” assessments to manage financial discrepancies early. Proactive measures, such as adjustments to estimated tax payments, mitigate fiscal surprises.

Approach year-end with strategic planning. By ensuring accurate reconciliations, balance verifications, tax documentation, payroll updates, and leveraging QuickBooks® capabilities, your business is positioned for a seamless transition into 2026. A diligent close of 2025 promises dividends in consistency and growth.

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