Learning Center
We keep you up to date on the latest tax changes and news in the industry.

Essential QuickBooks® Year-End Strategies for 2025 Success

As the vibrant autumn colors signal the year's end, businesses and accountants alike understand the importance of closing the books effectively in preparation for a prosperous 2026. Navigating the latest tax developments and leveraging QuickBooks® Online (QBO) advancements ensures a smooth transition into the new year. Here are pivotal tasks to consider before December 31 to enhance your 2025 tax season management.

1. Reconcile Financial Accounts Fully

Ensure there are no lingering discrepancies. Navigate to Settings > Chart of Accounts > Reconcile in QuickBooks, aligning each account with its statement, validating ending balances, and addressing transactions within Undeposited Funds or Uncategorized categories. Utilize the enhanced QuickBooks functionality to identify unreconciled items and avoid future setbacks.

Image 1

2. Assess Customer and Vendor Financial Positions

Utilize the Accounts Receivable Aging and Accounts Payable Aging reports to review pending balances. Distribute account statements to clients with outstanding bills, and evaluate overdue or irretrievable debts for potential write-off. Also, cross-check vendor balances to ensure no entries are missed.

3. Finalize and Analyze Key Financial Reports

Prepare comprehensive Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Trial Balance reports covering the full fiscal year. Investigate anomalies like negative balances or large entries and apply filters by class or location to highlight any discrepancies.

4. Optimize 1099 Tracking for Contractors

Ensure all contractors are designated correctly for 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC. Navigate to Expenses → Vendors → Prepare 1099s within QuickBooks to confirm addresses, W-9s, and payment details, thus avoiding IRS complications come January.

Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
Choose from our locations and meet with one of our qualified staff members. If you prefer to secure a Virtual Meeting via Zoom or Phone, please contact our offices at 877.908.1040
Schedule Here

5. Execute Final Financial Adjustments and Close Your Books

Address necessary adjustments including depreciation, amortization, bad debts, owner distributions, and retained earnings transfers. Verify your fiscal year settings under Settings→ Advanced to inform QuickBooks of your fiscal timeline. Once adjustments are complete, officially "close your books" to secure against unauthorized amendments.

Image 2

6. Refresh Payroll and Employee Records

If utilizing QuickBooks® Online Payroll, year-end is pivotal:

  • Process final payroll, including any bonuses or commissions.

  • Validate the recording of all benefits, fringe payments, and retirement contributions.

  • Confirm and update employee details (addresses, SSNs, W-4 amendments).

  • Preview W-2 forms to ensure accuracy prior to filing.

7. Integrate New QuickBooks® Features and Automations

Throughout 2025, QuickBooks® introduced enhancements in automation, categorization rules, and user interface. If you haven't embraced these advancements, now is an opportune time—particularly beneficial for those managing multiple clients via QuickBooks® Online Accountant.

As a bonus advisory:

Apply QBO’s cash-flow forecasting tools or execute a “budget vs. actual” analysis to forecast potential discrepancies. Should 2025 present unexpected costs or diminishing revenues, consider preemptively allocating reserves or altering tax projections.

Image 3

A strategic year-end approach avoids the chaos of last-minute scrambles. By ensuring thorough reconciliations, verifying financial balances, completing tax paperwork, updating payroll systems, and leveraging QuickBooks® advancements, your business anticipates a seamless transition into 2026. A commitment to due diligence today promises substantial future rewards.

Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
Choose from our locations and meet with one of our qualified staff members. If you prefer to secure a Virtual Meeting via Zoom or Phone, please contact our offices at 877.908.1040
Schedule Here
Share this article...

Want tax & accounting tips and insights?

Sign up for our newsletter.

I confirm this is a service inquiry and not an advertising message or solicitation. By clicking “Submit”, I acknowledge and agree to the creation of an account and to the and .

TAX DRx at a Glance

Our expertise is widespread and we have multiple office locations to make it convenient for you to get help. You can find us at:

TAX DRx Corporate Headquarters

502 Centennial Ave
Cranford, NJ 07016
(Grd St Pkwy - Ext 136)
(877) 263-1041

NYC - Harlem Franchise Office

2123 Frederick Douglass Blvd
New York, NY 10026
(8th Ave & 115th St.)
(Subway B, C, Bus M3)
(877) 263-1041

TAX DRx - Hillside

*Charles Dort, Managing Partner*
1568 Maple Ave, Store #1
Hillside, NJ 07205
(Corner of Conklin Ave)
(877) 408-1048

TAX DRx, dba/ TaxJohn

TaxJohn Tax Services
121 Park Ave
Plainfield, NJ 07060