Fixing QuickBooks Payroll Update Error PS038 Instantly

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll simplifies payroll tasks for small and medium-sized businesses. It's also essential to update your Payroll Tax table for smooth processing. However, technical issues such as QuickBooks payroll update error PS038 may arise, affecting payroll activities and online paycheck processing.

This guide provides essential resources and clear solutions to resolve this issue promptly, ensuring uninterrupted payroll management. Read this blog until the end to understand the reasons and possible solutions to fix the problem.

What Causes Payroll Update Error PS038 in QuickBooks?

You can examine and identify the causes of QuickBooks error PS038 on your system with the following steps:

1. Running an outdated version of QuickBooks can lead to a problem with the QuickBooks payroll update not working. Regularly updating your QuickBooks application helps prevent such errors by ensuring compatibility with payroll services and the latest features.
2. Error PS038 in QuickBooks can occur if paychecks get stuck in the system. Clearing these paychecks to ensure smooth payroll processing and accurate record-keeping is the key to resolving this issue.

Troubleshooting Ways for QuickBooks Desktop Error PS038

If you want to discover the method that ensures a complete resolution of QuickBooks Desktop Error PS038, we recommend following the steps in the specified order as advised by our experts.

Solution 1: Update and Back Up Your QuickBooks Data

1. Start the QB Desktop program.
2. Select Update available.
3. Next, click on Install Now to install the update.
4. Wait patiently while the update completes the installation.
5. Open QuickBooks after the update finishes installing.

1. From the QuickBooks' File menu, choose Switch to Single-user Mode.
2. In the File menu, hover over Back up Company and select Create Local Backup.
3. Choose Local Backup and click Next in the window.
4. Under Local Backup Only, click Browse to select where to save your backup company file.
5. Optionally, set the number of backups to retain.
6. To backup reminders, you may use Online and Local Backup.
7. Select Complete verification to ensure your backup file is reliable.
8. Click OK when ready.
9. Click on Save it now and schedule future backups, then select Next.
10. Alternatively, select Only schedule future backups if you don't want an immediate backup.
11. When you close the company file, automatically check the box Save backup copy and set the backup frequency.

Solution 2: Identify and Toggle Stuck Paychecks

The stuck payments in QB payroll can also cause issues. Use these steps to toggle such payments.

1. Navigate to Edit and choose Find.
2. Select the Advanced tab.
3. Under Choose Filter, pick Detail Level from the list.
4. Scroll in the Filter list to select Online Status, then pick Online to Send.
5. Click Find to view paychecks that have not yet been sent to Intuit.
6. Open the oldest stuck paycheck.
7. Click on the Paycheck Detail button.
8. In the Review Paycheck window, under Earnings, add an earnings item identical to the last one in the list.
9. When prompted with a Net Pay Locked message, choose No.
10. If a Past Transaction message appears, select Yes.
11. Choose the option to Save & Close to close the paycheck.
12. Confirm with Yes to the Recording Transaction warning message.
13. Reopen the paycheck and click the Paycheck Details button.
14. Delete the previously added earnings items from the Earnings section.
15. After verifying all the payments, hit the OK button.

The steps above are designed to resolve stuck paychecks and eliminate QuickBooks payroll update error PS038. This article thoroughly examines the potential causes of the error and provides comprehensive solutions.