Quickbooks Online Faq

Troubleshooting common QuickBooks Online issues

This guide covers solutions for frequent technical and procedural questions in QuickBooks Online.

Service outages and maintenance

We work hard to keep QuickBooks Online available 24/7, but occasional outages or planned maintenance may occur.

• During an outage: If you cannot access the service, visit https://qbo.intuit.com. You will see an “out of service” page if there is a current issue. To be notified when service is restored, click the email link on that page and enter your name and email address.
• Planned maintenance: When downtime is scheduled for maintenance, we display an alert on your Home page in advance. Please note these dates and times to ensure you can complete your accounting tasks outside of the maintenance window.

Unable to sign in or access the sign-in page

If you cannot reach the sign-in screen, try these steps:

1. Go directly to https://qbo.intuit.com.
2. Try clicking Sign In at the top of https://quickbooksonline.intuit.com.

If you still cannot access the page, check your browser’s security settings. Ensure your browser is configured to support SSL (Secured Socket Layer) and accepts secure connections. If you are using a corporate network or firewall, check with your IT administrator, as these can sometimes block access to the sign-in page.

Updating your account address

If you receive an error when trying to update your address as part of your login information, we are aware of the issue and are working on a resolution.

To update your address, follow these steps:

1. Select the Settings gear icon in the upper right corner.
2. Select Account and settings (or Your Account).
3. Click the Personal (or Personal Info) tab.
4. Select Edit in the Personal information section.
5. Update your address and select Save.

Recording barter transactions

A barter transaction occurs when you exchange goods or services with a vendor without exchanging money. To record this in QuickBooks Online, you must set up a specific “bank” account to track the exchange.

To set up a barter bank account:

1. Select the Settings gear icon and then Chart of Accounts.
2. Select New to create a new account.
3. Choose Bank as the Account Type.
4. Name the account (for example, “Barter Account”) and save it.

To record the barter:

1. Create an Invoice for the goods or services you provided to the vendor.
2. Create a Bill for the goods or services the vendor provided to you.
3. Receive Payment for the invoice: In the “Deposit to” field, select your Barter Bank Account.
4. Pay Bill for the vendor’s bill: In the “Payment account” field, select your Barter Bank Account.

This effectively zeroes out the balance in the barter account while recording the income and expense.

Retained Earnings account

You cannot delete the Retained Earnings account. QuickBooks Online requires this account to function properly, as it automatically carries over the net profit or loss from previous fiscal years.

However, you can edit the account name if you prefer terminology that better fits your business. To do this, go to Settings > Chart of Accounts, locate Retained Earnings, select Edit, and change the name.

Importing desktop company files

If you are moving data from a desktop version of QuickBooks to QuickBooks Online, you must use the import utility. This process requires specific tools to move your data securely.

If the conversion tool does not install automatically:

• Ensure you are using a supported browser and that your browser allows ActiveX controls or necessary plug-ins.
• Verify that your computer meets the system requirements (specifically regarding 32-bit vs. 64-bit operating system modes if using older import tools).
• If you continue to experience issues, consult the official Intuit import guide or contact support for assistance with the specific error message you are receiving.