Stepwise Guide to Eliminate QuickBooks Error PS038
Error PS038 may appear while downloading the payroll update, updating tax tables, or running payroll in the QB application. You may also encounter this when sending paychecks online, but it gets stuck as "Online to Send." The reason for this error could be corrupted company files, wrong firewall application settings, improper internet connection settings, outdated QuickBooks version, incorrect payroll setup etc. In this guide, we will discuss how to eliminate QuickBooks error PS038 and ensure a smooth payroll processing.
Reasons For Payroll Error PS038 in QuickBooks
There could be many reasons that can trigger this payroll error code in your system, such as:
Outdated QuickBooks version.
Corrupted Data
Wrong Payroll Setup
Eliminate QuickBooks Payroll Error PS038
Payroll errors such as PS038 and QuickBooks desktop error PS036 are pretty common, and you can fix them easily. Follow the below stepwise solution to resolve this payroll error.
Step 1: Update QuickBooks
Verify the version of QuickBooks
Open QuickBooks Desktop.
Press F2 (or Ctrl+1).
Open the Product Information window.
Check your current version.
Update QuickBooks if it is not up-to-date.
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Install the update
Select Update available.
Select Install Now.
Install the update.
Wait for some time.
Finish the installation.
Once done, open QuickBooks.
Step 2: Send Payroll or Usage Data
Go to Employees, select My Payroll Service, and then choose Send Usage Data. If this option isn’t visible, proceed to the next step.
Go to Employees.
Select Send Payroll Data.
Access the Send/Receive Payroll Data window.
Click Send All.
Enter your payroll service PIN if asked.
If sending is successful, try to get payroll updates again.
Step 3: Identify Stuck Paychecks
Go to Edit and select Find.
Click on the Advanced tab.
In the Choose Filter section, select Detail Level from the Filter list and choose Summary Only.
Return to the Filter list, scroll down, and select Online Status, then choose Online to Send.
Click Find. This will show paychecks that were not sent to Intuit.
Note the "Number of matches" in the Find window and move to Step 4.
Step 4: Verify and Rebuild Your Data
Close the Find window.
Run a Verify Data to display any stuck paychecks.
Rebuild your data file.
Try to download your payroll updates again. If errors persist, go to Step 5.
Step 5: Toggle the Stuck Paychecks
Open the oldest stuck paycheck.
Click the Paycheck Detail button.
In the Review Paycheck window, under Earnings, add the same earnings item as the last item in the list (e.g., add another Hourly Rate if it’s the last item).
When a Net Pay Locked message appears, click No.
Ensure there are no changes to tax amounts and net pay, then select OK.
When prompted with a Past Transaction message, choose Yes.
Select Save & Close.
Reopen the paycheck and click Paycheck Details.
Delete the earnings items you just added.
Ensure there are no changes to tax amounts and net pay, then select OK.
Repeat these steps for each stuck paycheck identified in Step 3.
Download the tax table update again.
We hope that these stepwise instructions helped you resolve the QuickBooks error PS038.
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