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Essential QuickBooks® Year-End Strategies for 2025

As autumn winds down and businesses prepare to transition into 2026, the critical task at hand is closing the books on 2025. Strategic year-end closing not only ensures compliance but also positions your business advantageously for the upcoming year. With dynamic tax legislation and new enhancements in QuickBooks® Online (QBO), here are imperative actions to conclude 2025 effectively.

1. Thoroughly Reconcile Bank and Credit Card Accounts

Ensure each financial account is accurately matched to its statement within Settings > Chart of Accounts > Reconcile. Confirm ending balances and examine any transactions lingering in Undeposited Funds or Uncategorized categories. Utilize QBO’s alerts for unreconciled items to prevent future discrepancies.

2. Audit Customer and Vendor Balances

Generate detailed aging reports, such as Accounts Receivable Aging and Accounts Payable Aging. Dispatch statements to clients with outstanding invoices. For bills uncollectible, consider write-offs with due diligence. Scrutinize vendor balances for missing entries.

3. Complete Vital Year-End Reports

Prepare comprehensive Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Trial Balance reports covering the entire fiscal year. Investigate anomalies, particularly negative or unusually large entries. Leverage class or location filters for identifying unusual variances.

4. Manage 1099 and Contractor Documentation

Verify contractor status for correct form issuance, whether 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC. Navigate to Expenses → Vendors → Prepare 1099s in QBO to confirm addresses, W-9s, and payments. Avoid January IRS issues by ensuring complete data.

5. Apply Final Adjustments and Secure the Books

Conduct necessary adjustments including depreciation, amortization, bad debt, owner draws, and retained earnings. Make sure your fiscal year settings under Settings→ Advanced reflect the correct period. Protect your data integrity by closing your books post-adjustments.

6. Refresh Payroll and Employee Records

If using QuickBooks® Online Payroll, ensure thorough payroll processing before year-end:

  • Execute final payroll, incorporating bonuses and commissions

  • Record all benefits, fringe benefits, and retirement contributions accurately

  • Update employee information, including addresses and SSNs

  • Preview and amend W-2 forms before submission

7. Optimize with New QuickBooks® Functionalities

In 2025, QuickBooks® introduced automation advancements, rule categorizations, and interface updates. Activate these features now, especially beneficial for those using QuickBooks® Online Accountant for multi-client management.

Bonus Insight:

Capitalize on QBO’s cash-flow forecasting tools or conduct a “budget vs. actual” analysis to mitigate upcoming shortfalls. If 2025 brought unpredictable expenses or reduced revenue, contemplate reserving funds or adjusting early estimated payments.

Treat year-end preparation proactively rather than reactively. By aligning accounts, verifying accuracy, meeting tax form requirements, updating payroll, and utilizing QuickBooks®’s innovative features, you lay the groundwork for a successful 2026. This meticulousness now pays dividends in the future.

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