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QBO Export Errors and How to Resolve Them

  • Updated

Below are some common QuickBooks Online (QBO) export errors you may see when exporting transactions from Float. Each entry below explains what the error means and how to resolve it.

Note: You must be an Administrator in QuickBooks Online to export transactions to QBO.

If you have any questions or you don’t see the error you’re encountering here, reach out to us at support@floatfinancial.com.

 

Where to see the Export Errors in Float:

Card Transactions:

  1. Transaction Export > Ready to Export
  2. Select the transaction > Export Requirements
  3. The export error will be displayed in the "Export Errors" section

Bill Pay:

  1. Bill Pay > Payments or All Bills
  2. Select the bill.
  3. The export error will be displayed at the top of the bill

Reimbursements:

  1. Reimbursements > Payments or All Reports
  2. Select the report.
  3. The export error will be displayed at the top of the report

 

Common Export Errors and How to Resolve Them:

Accounting Period has Closed

Accounting Sync has Failed

Invalid Reference ID

Invalid Account Type Used

Variations of the Business Validation Error:

 

Accounting Period has Closed

This error occurs when the transaction date falls within a locked or closed accounting period in QBO.

How to resolve:

  • Unlock the accounting period in QBO (if possible)
  • In Float, go to Settings > Accounting Sync > Sync
  • Transaction Exports > Ready for Export > Select "Export"

 

Accounting Sync has Failed

This is a general error message that you will see in Settings > Accounting Sync if there has been an issue with the connection between Float and your accounting system.

How to resolve:

  • In Settings > Accounting Sync > Select the "Reconnect" button and follow the prompts to reconnect QBO to Float

 

Invalid Reference ID

This error means that the GL code, tax code, or vendor being used has been deleted or marked inactive in QBO.

How to resolve:

  1. In QBO, reactivate the missing GL code, tax code, or vendor
  2. In Float, go to Settings > Accounting Sync > Sync
  3. Go to Transaction Export > Ready for Export > Select the transaction
  4. Make the necessary update
  5. Select "Export"

 

Invalid Account Type Used

This error indicates that the accounts set up in QBO are not using the correct account types.

How to resolve:

  1. In QBO, open your Clearing Account > Set Account Type to Bank > Set the Type to Chequing
  2. Open your Accounts Payable account > Set Account Type to Accounts Payable (A/P) > Set Class to Liability > Ensure it is in CAD > Save
  3. In Float, go to Settings > Accounting Sync > Sync
  4. Go to Bill Pay > Payments or All Bills > Open the bill
  5. Select the "Re-Export" button

 

Variations of the Business Validation Error:

Business Validation Error: Unexpected Internal Error. (-37100)

This generic QBO error isn't descriptive enough to pinpoint the exact cause of the error. It most often points to a tax code configuration issue in QBO, especially when using a pre-populated/default tax code.

To troubleshoot this:

  • Check the tax code selected on the transaction and verify that it is appropriate for the transaction
    1. If it's not, go to Accounting > Transaction Export > Ready for Export
    2. Select the transaction > Review and update the Tax Code
    3. Select "Export"
  • If the export is still failing:
    1. In QBO, create a new tax code that fits the transaction
    2. In Float, go to Settings > Accounting Sync > Sync to pull the new code
    3. In Float, go to Transaction Export > Ready for Export > Select the transaction
    4. Assign the newly created tax code to the transaction
    5. Select "Export"

 

Business Validation Error: We’re sorry, QuickBooks encountered an error while calculating tax. Try reselecting the tax rate or reentering the product/service item and saving the form again

This error happens when QBO can’t calculate the tax on a transaction, usually because the tax code is invalid or missing required details.

How to resolve:

  • Verify that the tax code selected on the transaction is appropriate for the transaction
    1. Go to Transaction Export > Ready for Export > Select the transaction
    2. If the Tax Code is wrong, update the Tax Code
    3. Select "Export"
  • If the export is still failing or the tax code on the transaction is correct:
    1. In QBO, create a new tax code that fits the transaction
    2. In Float, go to Settings > Accounting Sync > Sync
    3. In Float, go to Transaction Export > Ready for Export > Select the transaction
    4. Assign the newly created tax code to the transaction
    5. Select "Export"

 

Business Validation Error: When you use Accounts Payable, you must choose a supplier in the Name field

This error occurs when a bill or transaction has an Accounts Payable GL Code, and either no vendor or the wrong vendor is assigned to the transaction.

How to resolve:

  1. Navigate to Transaction Export > Ready for Export > Select the transaction
  2. Clear the vendor field > Select the correct vendor
  3. Select "Export"

 

Business Validation Error: You can't use an Accounts Payable account on the detail portion of a Bill

This error occurs when the Accounts Payable (A/P) GL account is mistakenly assigned to a line item on a bill. In QBO, the A/P account is reserved for payment tracking and syncing details from Float to QBO in your Bill Pay settings.

How to resolve:

  1. If the bill is already scheduled for payment:
    • Go to Bill Pay > Payments
    • Click Unschedule to move the bill to the Unpaid tab
  2. In the Unpaid tab:
    • Click the three-dot menu next to the bill
    • Select Move to Drafts
  3. Once the bill is in Drafts:
    • Edit the line item(s) and replace the Accounts Payable GL code with an applicable non-AP GL code
  4. Resubmit the bill for approval by selecting "Get Approval"
  5. After approval, go to Bill Pay > Unpaid > Open the bill
    • Select the "Set Payment Date" button
    • Once a payment date is set, the bill will automatically move to the Payments tab

 

Business Validation Error: Transactions can have only one foreign currency at a time

This error occurs when multiple currencies are included in a single transaction. QBO only allows one currency per transaction.

How to resolve:

  1. If the bill is already scheduled for payment:
    • Go to Bill Pay > Payments
    • Click Unschedule to move it to the Unpaid tab
  2. In the Unpaid tab:
    • Click the three-dot menu next to the bill
    • Select Move to Drafts
  3. Once the bill is in Drafts:
    • Edit the bill to ensure only one currency is used
  4. Resubmit the bill for approval by selecting "Get Approval"
  5. After approval, go to Bill Pay > Unpaid > Open the bill
    • Select the "Set Payment Date" button
    • Once a payment date is set, the bill will automatically move to the Payments tab

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