Winner Of The 2025 AICTP Certified Tax Coach of the Year

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

Essential QuickBooks® Online Tasks to Complete Before 2025

As the year draws to a close, business owners utilizing QuickBooks® Online (QBO) have an opportunity to streamline their accounting processes and enter the new fiscal year fully prepared. With a strategic approach to bookkeeping and compliance, you can minimize risks and set a strong foundation for 2026 amidst heightened scrutiny from regulatory bodies such as the IRS.

1. Reconcile Financial Accounts Thoroughly

Navigate to Settings → Chart of Accounts → Reconcile. Ensure congruence between your ending bank and credit-card statements and review Undeposited Funds. QBO will flag unreconciled items, helping to avoid unexpected tax issues come April.

2. Review Accounts Aging Reports

Generate Accounts Receivable Aging and Accounts Payable Aging reports to address any untimely receivables or outstanding vendor bills. This practice ensures your financial statements correctly represent your fiscal position, paving the way for timely tax preparation.

3. Harness Enhanced Reporting Capabilities

Take advantage of QBO’s "Modern View" for standard reports, which offers improved filtering, quicker loading times, and advanced customization options. Extract detailed insights from reports like Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Forecasts more effectively. Learn more about recent updates.

4. Prepare Form 1099/NEC for Contractors

For those engaging freelancers or independent contractors, it’s crucial to go to Expenses → Vendors → Prepare 1099s. Ensure all necessary W-9s are collected, track payment thresholds, and confirm QBO is correctly marking your vendors. Avoid costly mistakes and penalties by attending to this detail now.

5. Securely Close the Books

Verify your “First month of fiscal year” under Settings → Advanced, then finalize your closing balances and lock periods to prevent unauthorized changes. This step ensures the accuracy and integrity of your year-end data, providing your tax preparer with complete and clean information.

6. Plan for 2026 with Robust Cash Flow Forecasting

Utilize QBO’s cash flow tools to project financial trends from January to March 2026. Identifying potential revenue fluctuations and tax obligations now will bolster your cash flow resilience, allowing for strategic planning rather than reactive adjustments.

7. Embrace Automation and New Functionalities

Recent updates in QBO facilitate streamlined pay item management and offer integrated e-signature solutions for payroll admin tasks. These enhancements contribute significantly to operational efficiency and help alleviate end-of-year stressors. Explore these new features.

Ultimately, investing a consistent 30 to 60 minutes each week in meticulous financial management—including account reconciliation, the review of aging reports, and the application of new tools—equips you with foresight and steadiness, transforming QuickBooks® Online from a simple transaction recorder into a vital tool for strategic financial positioning.

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 .
Ember Coaching & Financial Services We want to help you, ask us questions
Feel free to use our Ai Powered Chat Assistant or click the contact button to reach us directly
Please fill out the form and our team will get back to you shortly The form was sent successfully