Managing Accounting Periods: How to Update Fiscal Year in QuickBooks
21 Feb, 2025
Setting up and adjusting your fiscal year correctly in QuickBooks is crucial for accurate financial reporting and tax compliance. Whether you use QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks Online, ensuring that your fiscal year aligns with your business operations helps maintain organized records and simplifies tax preparation.
This guide will walk you through the process of adjusting your fiscal year in QuickBooks, including step-by-step instructions, troubleshooting tips, and frequently asked questions. If you need assistance, feel free to call 877-200-7013 for expert help.
Understanding Fiscal Year in QuickBooks
A fiscal year is the 12-month period that a business uses for financial reporting. While many businesses use a calendar year (January 1 – December 31), others opt for a different fiscal year based on their industry or tax strategy.
Why Adjust Your Fiscal Year?
Align Financial Reports with tax requirements
Avoid Misaligned Tax Filing deadlines
Ensure Accurate Budgeting and Forecasting
Comply with Business Regulations
Adjusting Fiscal Year in QuickBooks Desktop
Step 1: Open Your Company Preferences
Open QuickBooks Desktop and log in as an Admin.
Click on Edit from the top menu bar.
Select Preferences from the dropdown.
Choose Accounting from the left panel.
Navigate to the Company Preferences tab.
Step 2: Change the First Month of the Fiscal Year
Locate the First Month of Fiscal Year field.
Select the appropriate month from the dropdown list.
Click OK to save changes.
Restart QuickBooks to apply the updates.
Step 3: Verify the Changes
Go to Reports from the top menu.
Select Company & Financial > Profit & Loss Standard.
Check if the fiscal year now reflects the correct start and end dates.
Adjusting Fiscal Year in QuickBooks Online
Step 1: Navigate to Account Settings
Log in to QuickBooks Online as an Admin.
Click on the Gear icon in the upper right corner.
Select Account and Settings from the dropdown.
Step 2: Modify the Fiscal Year Start Date
Go to the Advanced tab.
Locate the Accounting section.
Click the Edit (pencil) icon next to First month of fiscal year.
Choose the correct start month from the dropdown.
Click Save, then Done.
Step 3: Verify Your Changes
Click on Reports from the left navigation panel.
Run a Profit & Loss report.
Check whether the fiscal year settings align with your preferred reporting period.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Issue 1: Unable to Change Fiscal Year in QuickBooks Desktop
Solution: Ensure you are logged in as an Admin. If the option is unavailable, check whether your QuickBooks file is in multi-user mode; switch to single-user mode to make changes.
Issue 2: Reports Showing Incorrect Fiscal Year
Solution: After changing the fiscal year, refresh your reports by clearing the cache or restarting QuickBooks.
Issue 3: Fiscal Year Not Updating in QuickBooks Online
Solution: Try logging out and logging back in. If the issue persists, contact QuickBooks Support at 877-200-7013 for assistance.
1. Can I change my fiscal year in QuickBooks multiple times?
Yes, but frequent changes may affect reports and tax filings. Make sure the changes align with your business requirements.
2. What happens to existing transactions if I adjust the fiscal year?
Past transactions remain unchanged. However, reports will be recalculated based on the new fiscal year settings.
3. Will changing the fiscal year affect tax filings?
It depends. Consult a tax professional before adjusting your fiscal year to ensure compliance with IRS regulations.
4. Can I set a different fiscal year for different accounts in QuickBooks?
No. QuickBooks applies the fiscal year settings at the company level, not per account.
5. How can I ensure my reports reflect the new fiscal year?
Run a Profit & Loss report and a Balance Sheet to confirm the changes. If discrepancies appear, try refreshing QuickBooks or clearing cache data.
Conclusion
Adjusting your fiscal year in QuickBooks Desktop and Online is a straightforward process that ensures accurate financial reporting and tax compliance. By following the steps outlined above, you can update your fiscal year settings efficiently and minimize errors.
If you need further assistance, call 877-200-7013 for expert QuickBooks support. Our team is ready to help with any QuickBooks-related queries to ensure your financial data remains accurate and organized.
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