Why Can't I Close This Accounting Period?

Prepare Period Close on the Close the Books tab of Accounting checks the whole period before it lets you send the close for review. If a check fails, the message tells you what to fix. Fix it and prepare the close again.

What Each Message Means

• Import and independently check statements covering this exact period. Each bank needs a statement whose start and end dates match the period, and someone else must approve its matches.
• Bank and journal balances differ. The statement balances don't match the cash on the books. If the difference is timing, such as a check that hasn't cleared, use Review Bank Timing. See What Do the Accounting Tools Do?
• Match or independently review every cash journal line before closing the period. A cash entry in the period isn't matched to a bank transaction or covered by a reviewed timing item or internal offset.
• Resolve unapplied receipts, suspense and in-transit cash before closing. Money is still sitting in Money Not Yet Assigned, funds held for review, or a payout on its way. Assign or refund it, or wait for the payout to clear.
• Resolve payment exceptions through this period before closing. A payment created by the end of the period is still In Progress, Failed or Returned. Wait for an in-progress payment to clear, and pay a failed or returned payout again so it clears. A failed or returned Payment In needs a final result. See Resolve Payment Issues Before Closing.
• Payment activity changed after resolution. Prepare a new review for that payment.
• Post or independently resolve all due accruals and reversals before closing. A scheduled book entry is due. Click Check Due Posting, or fix what's stopping it.
• Approve or cancel pending accrual schedules through this period before closing. A schedule with entries in this period is still waiting for review.
• Accounting periods cannot overlap. Use the same dates as the existing period, or dates that don't touch it.
• This period is already closed. To change it, click Request Reopening.

Good to Know

• Close checks current facts again when someone approves. If activity changed after you prepared it, the message is The accounting evidence changed. Prepare a new close.
• The person who prepared a close can't approve it, unless no one else in your workspace can.
• Once a period is closed, new entries dated in it are blocked until it's reopened.
• Related: How Do I Reconcile the Bank and Close the Books?