QuickBooks Error PS038: Get Your Payroll Update Seamlessly

You must keep the payroll tax tables up-to-date for accurate tax rates and calculations when e-filing or e-paying for your federal or state taxes. However, when running the tax table update in QuickBooks or your payroll service, you may end up with QuickBooks error PS038 on your screen, hindering the processes.

This happens most commonly when your paychecks get stuck as “Online to Send” or due to an outdated QuickBooks Desktop. From rebuilding the stuck paychecks and other possible troubleshooting solutions, we will perform stepwise instructions to roll back the error code PS038.

Have you failed to update the tax table due to stuck paychecks and wonder what to do? Dial +1-844-326-2960 and connect with QuickBooks professionals for assistance, or you can let them handle the task, even downloading the most recent update.

Troubleshooting Steps for QuickBooks Payroll Update Error PS038

To get past error PS038 in QuickBooks, you must identify stuck paychecks and remove or send them to address the issue interrupting the tax table update.

Below, we will discuss the stepwise instructions for identifying and toggling the stuck paychecks and possible ways to rectify the error.

Step 1: Back Up Your QuickBooks Data and Update the Program

Before implementing the troubleshooting steps below, ensure that you create a backup copy of the QuickBooks Desktop company file and download the most recent version of QuickBooks.

Manually Backup Your Company File

• Navigate to File at the top.
• Choose Switch to Single-user Mode.
• Select the File menu again and navigate to Back up Company.
• Click on Create Local Backup.
• Choose Local Backup from the redirected window and Next.
• Hit on Browse in the Local Backup Only section and select the location where you want to save the backup.
• Choose the number of backup copies you want to save. This is optional.

• This will run a quick test to ensure the backup file is in good shape.
• Once done, hit OK.
• Choose Save it now and click on Next.
• Now, QuickBooks will save a backup copy of your company file. Once it has done so, you will receive a confirmation message.

Learn More- Try This If Your QuickBooks Payroll Update Not Working

Download the QuickBooks Updates

You must keep your QuickBooks Desktop up-to-date to receive the payroll services update without interruption and for better performance.

• Launch your QB Desktop.
• Click on Help at the top menu bar.
• Hit on Update QuickBooks Desktop.
• In the prompted window, click on the Update Now tab.
• Choose the Reset Updates checkbox.
• Once done, hit on Get Updates.

Read More- Update QuickBooks Desktop: Enhance the Program’s Performance

Step 2: Send Your Payroll Data or Usage Data

Let’s run a test to find out whether the issue is with your data or the update gets interrupted due to an unknown reason:

• Navigate to Employees at the top menu bar.
• Choose My Payroll service and then click on Send Usage Data. In case you cannot find the option, proceed to the next step.
• Click on the Employees menu and then Send Payroll Data.
• Tap on Send All in the Send/Receive Payroll Data window. Type the payroll service PIN when prompted.
• If you send the data successfully, try again to get the payroll updates.
• If you failed to send the data, contact our QB professionals.

Step 3: Find the Stuck Paychecks

Stuck paychecks are the primary reason you encountered QuickBooks error PS038 when updating the tax table or running the services. So, you must identify the paychecks by following the below steps:

• Navigate to the Edit menu.
• Select Find.
• Move to the Advanced tab.
• Go to the Choose Filter and choose Detail Level from the Filter list.
• Tap on Summary Only.
• Go back to the Filter list.
• Scroll down and tap on Online Status.
• Choose Online to Send.
• Now, click on Find, and then you will see the paychecks that haven’t been sent to Intuit and get stuck.
• Note the “Number of matches” in the Find window.
• Once done, proceed to the next step.

Step 4: Verify and Rebuild the Company File Data/Paychecks

Let’s run the Verify and Rebuild Data utility for rebuilding the paychecks you identified in the above steps:

• Exit the Find window.
• Navigate to Window and select Close All.
• Click on the File menu, choose Utilities and then hit on Verify Data.
• Once done, you will see the stuck paychecks waiting to be sent.
• After finding the stuck paychecks, you must run the Rebuild utility to remove them.
• Move back to the File> Utilities> Rebuild Data.
• Re-attempt to download the payroll updates.

Step 5: Toggle the Paychecks that are Stuck

If verifying and rebuilding does not help for stuck paychecks, you need to toggle them:

• Open the oldest paycheck you found.
• Hit the Paycheck Detail button.
• Under Earnings, in the redirected Review Paycheck window, add the earnings item as the last earnings item on the list.

Example: If Hourly Rate has the last item, add another earnings item named Hourly Rate to the list.

• You will see a Net Pay Locked message on your screen. Click No.
• Now, check and ensure that there are no changes to the tax amounts and net pay. Hit OK.
• Click Yes if you get a Past Transaction message.
• Tap on Save & Close to close the paycheck.
• Click Yes once you see a warning stating Recording Transaction.
• Open your paycheck again and hit the Paycheck Details button.
• Be sure to delete the earnings items that you just added to the Earnings section.
• Check and ensure that there are no changes to the tax amounts and net pay, and click OK.
• Now, repeat the above steps for each stuck paycheck you found in Step 2
• Once done, repeat Step 1 and download the tax table update again.

Step 6: Verify the Payroll Service Subscription

An active payroll subscription is required to keep your payroll services up-to-date. Here’s how to verify the QuickBooks payroll subscription:

• Exit your open company file and restart your system.
• Launch QB Desktop, navigate to Employees and click on My Payroll Service.
• Then, hit on Manage Service Key.
• Check your Service Name and Status to ensure they are correct and appear Active.
• Click on Edit and verify your service key number. If the service key is incorrect, ensure to enter the correct one.
• Hit on Next and uncheck the Open Payroll Setup box, then select Finish.

Step 7: Ensure QuickBooks Desktop is Registered

It’s important to register your QuickBooks program. Here’s how to check if your software is registered.

• Launch QB Desktop.
• Launch the Product Information window by pressing the F2 key.
• Now, check if it says Activated beside the license number.

Step 8: Run Quick Fix my Program from QuickBooks Tool Hub

Any damages or ongoing issues with your QuickBooks program can hinder the QuickBooks processes, such as the payroll tax table update.

The Quick Fix my Program utility will run a quick fix to your program and let you get your QB payroll updates:

• Exit the company file and the QuickBooks program.
• Download and install QuickBooks Tool Hub in the most recent version.
• Now, click on Program Problems.
• Hit on Quick Fix my Program.
• Start your QuickBooks program and launch your company file.
• Get the payroll tax table update again.

Summary

So, this is the end of this article, which covers why you failed when downloading the payroll updates and encountered QuickBooks error PS038 with suitable fixes to try. We hope these fixes have helped you address the problem and roll back to your business.

However, if none of these solutions works or you might get stuck somewhere, you must contact QuickBooks professionals. Dial +1-844-326-2960 and connect with a ProAdvisor to get the error resolved instantly.