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Essential QuickBooks® Year-End Actions for 2025

As the year comes to a close, accountants and small business owners are keenly aware that a meticulous finish to 2025 is imperative for a profitable start to 2026. Modernized tax laws and enhanced QuickBooks® Online (QBO) features necessitate thorough preparatory actions. Here are the vital tasks you should complete before year-end.

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1. Complete Bank and Credit Card Reconciliations

Leaving financial discrepancies unresolved can result in future headaches. Visit Settings > Chart of Accounts > Reconcile to match all accounts with their statements, verify ending balances, and resolve outstanding transactions in the Undeposited Funds or Uncategorized sections. QBO’s proactive alerts for unreconciled items safeguard against last-minute surprises.

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2. Scrutinize Customer and Vendor Balances

Execute Accounts Receivable Aging and Accounts Payable Aging reports. Dispatch statements to customers with pending invoices. If collections seem unlikely, consider a write-off, utilizing sound accounting practices. Verify vendor balances for overlooked entries.

3. Consolidate Year-End Financial Reports

Prepare and meticulously analyze your Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Trial Balance reports covering the entire year. Anomalies such as negative balances or disproportionately large entries should be scrutinized. Filters by class or location can help identify unusual variations.

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4. Ensure Accurate 1099 and Contractor Management

Correctly classify all contractors for 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC. In QBO, access Expenses → Vendors → Prepare 1099s to verify addresses, W-9s, and payment information. Incomplete data now could lead to IRS issues soon after.

5. Execute Final Adjustments and Seal the Books

Make necessary adjustments for depreciation, amortization, bad debts, owner draws, and retain earnings transfers. Confirm your precise fiscal year settings in Settings→ Advanced to alert QBO to the closing period. Finalize adjustments and formally “close your books” to ensure protection against accidental modifications.

6. Revise Payroll and Employee Information

This is crucial, especially if you manage payroll through QuickBooks® Online Payroll. Before years end:

  • Process your last payroll cycle, including any bonuses or commissions

  • Verify all benefits, fringe payments, and retirement contributions are accurately documented

  • Revise and update employee data (addresses, SSNs, W-4 changes)

  • Preview and amend W-2 forms before filing

7. Utilize QuickBooks®’ New Features & Automations

In 2025, QuickBooks® introduced improvements to automation, categorization rules, and interface design. If you haven't yet integrated these features, do so immediately—particularly if you use QuickBooks® Online Accountant for multi-client management.

Bonus tip:

Utilize QBO’s cash-flow projections or conduct a “budget vs. actual” analysis to identify potential shortfalls. If 2025 incurred unexpected expenses or decreased revenue, consider reserving funds or adjusting tax estimates proactively.

Approach year-end with foresight. By diligently reconciling accounts, verifying balances, finalizing tax documentation, updating payroll, and leveraging QuickBooks®'s newest tools, your business is poised for a seamless and prosperous 2026. Prudence now fosters future success.

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