As the leaves turn and we all begin to look ahead to 2026, small businesses and accountants know that closing the books on one year correctly sets the tone for the next. With evolving tax rules and new QuickBooks® Online (QBO) features rolling out, here are key tasks to prioritize before December 31 to streamline your 2025 tax season.
Don’t leave loose ends. In Settings > Chart of Accounts > Reconcile, match every account to its statement, confirm ending balances, and address transactions in the Undeposited Funds or Uncategorized buckets. QBO’s tools now flag unreconciled items to prevent surprises later.
Run aging reports: Accounts Receivable Aging and Accounts Payable Aging. Send statements to customers with outstanding invoices. If bills are overdue or uncollectible, consider writing them off (using proper accounting judgment). Also, check vendor balances for missed entries.
Generate and review your Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Trial Balance reports with the full-year date range. Look for anomalies like negative balances or unusually large entries. Use filters by class or location to spot odd variances.
Ensure that all contractors are properly flagged for 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC. In QBO, go to Expenses → Vendors → Prepare 1099s and confirm addresses, W-9s, and payments. Missing data now can lead to IRS headaches in January.
This includes depreciation, amortization, bad debt adjustments, owner draws, and retained earnings transfers. Confirm your fiscal year settings under Settings→ Advanced so QBO knows which period is ending. After adjustments, “close your books” to prevent inadvertent changes.
Especially important if you use QuickBooks® Online Payroll. Before year-end:
Run your final payroll for the year, including bonuses and commissions
Confirm all benefits, fringe payments, and retirement contributions are correctly recorded
Review and update employee info (addresses, SSNs, W-4 changes)
Preview and correct W-2 forms before filing
In 2025, QuickBooks® rolled out enhancements to automation, categorization rules, and interface improvements. If you haven’t opted into these features, now’s the time—especially for firms using QuickBooks® Online Accountant to manage multiple clients.
Bonus tip:
Use QBO’s cash-flow projection tools or run a “budget vs. actual” to spot expected gaps. If 2025 had unexpected expenses or lower revenue, consider setting aside reserves or adjusting estimated tax payments early.
Don’t treat year-end as a scramble. By reconciling accounts, verifying balances, completing tax forms, updating payroll, and using QuickBooks®’s latest tools, you position your business for a smoother 2026. A little diligence now pays dividends later.
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