QuickBooks File Access Question

Nothing unique about Intuit-based records in this regard, is there?

Instead of trying to "read" the Quickbooks files, why not work from the annual tax returns that *were* filed, and other annual statements? If standard tax year is used, and an extension was filed, 2007 return isn't due until Oct 15, 2008.

No, no, and no. Why not hire the bookkeeper? (In other words, what is in the best interest of the widow? You, or a professional?)

-Mark Bole

Nothing at all. Every password to every e-mail account, online banking, social networking site, your WEP key and you name it needs to be somewhere your executor can find it. If you have a business, a copy of the paper and electronic stuff and a copy of the program to read it needs to be kept. And if you decide to use a safe deposit box, make sure the executor is on the signature card so they don't have to go get a court order to open the box and get the contents.

My guess is hubby hid everything from wifey. Wouldn't be all all surprised to find dozens of bank accounts the wife knew nothing about.

You will have to find hubby's computer with Quickbooks on it to open the files. Or buy a copy.

But the book keeper should be the one doing the returns unless he only does business stuff and not estate stuff. Then you should get a tax accountant for that and have him talk to the book keeper.

Thanks all.

The widow has a tax guy in addition to the bookkeeper. The bookkeeper is doing the books and the tax guy is doing the returns. I'm in the unusual spot of being a partner in the National Tax Office of one of the Big 4 accounting firms with 30 years experience of tax planning with Fortune 500 companies. That means two things. First, none of my clients use QB. Second, my role is interpreting for the widow what the bookkeeper and the tax guy say to her. She's an elementary school teacher, and all this is just gibberish to her unless somebody translates it all into English. I spend a lot of my days doing interpretations for corporate execs, so it's a familiar role. However, even with all that experience, I wouldn't touch these returns or these books, because the widow needs someone who is paid to do it, and approaches it professionally. "Doing a favor" for someone on their books is asking for trouble.

By the way, Gary was right. We found all sorts of accounts that the widow knew nothing about - all credit cards and all with noticeable balances. Thank goodness the husband had life insurance. It's those accounts that have me involved. The husband was doing some things - cutting corners to save a paltry amount of money - that have the tax guy and the bookkeeper stumped and worried. I see what it is he was doing, and I'm trying to get the team pointed in a single direction to get it dealt with.

What I'm hearing from Mark and Gary is that there is no free QB reader out there. Oh, well. It was worth posting the question to find out. After your responses, I EM'd the bookkeeper to ask if he couldn't send me the QB files saved in pdf. Don't know if that'll work, but it'll be my next effort.

Maybe I'll just have to break down and buy a cheap copy of QB.

Thanks again.

Bill

There isn't a reader because it isn't a flat file it is a relational database. That's also why you can't make .pdf's of it. I suppose a detail transaction report of all accounts on all dates is possible, just be ready for a 10K page report. It's more normal output is a P&L and a balance sheet, those of course can be .pdf'd.

As for all those credit card accounts, time to get a credit report on him and her. It may turn up a lot more credit card accounts that might have a zero balance but need to be closed. Maybe pull a D&B on the business. Hopefully all the bank accounts have been found, but if they are small they might not make the $10 in interest to generate a 1099-INT. Also don't know if he had online accounts like PayPal that have money in them. I suspect for several years the widow may have to check for escheatments with all 50 states.

Bill wrote: ...

Well, welcome to the wonderful world of Intuit--if it isn't at least as new a version as that being used, it's unlikely it will open the file as Intuit changes file structure w/ every update, almost always in incompatible forms. OTOH, depending on how much later a new version is, there may or may not be a direct "upgrade" path.

I would recommend contacting Intuit directly and seeing if they cannot provide a way to bypass the password (for a fee, of course). May require some sort of documentation form executor to show right to know the information and I'm not positive whether they can help or not, but it's surely worth a shot I'd think.

--

Thanks to Gary and npd.

I suggested to the widow this afternoon that we get the credit reports. Dunno why I didn't think of that. Good suggestion. The husband died three months ago, and his bills have pretty much thinned out, but the cost of a D&B is peanuts compared to the cost of a surprise. That, and the widow is real motivated to turn the page on this part of her life and move on. She never understood her husband's business (she had never met or spoken to the tax guy or the bookkeeper until after her husband died, and had no idea what questions to ask them) and wants to get it behind her.

dpb caught my eye with the update issue. I understand what he meant with his "welcome to the wonderful world..." comment, being a longtime Quicken user. I'll see about contacting Intuit, but past experience (long holds on the phone, and charges for the help) doesn't make me hopeful.... Still, another good suggestion.

Anybody know/have any idea whether QB '08 can read QB '04?

Bill

Kind of yes. It will convert an '04 file into '08 format. However for your use a copy of 04 off eBay may be all you need. Was the book keeper the only one using Quickbooks? Or where is the dead husband's copy of the program? Truth be known for the few uses you'll likely be making of the program, you likely can install it but never register it.

Gary

Some more great suggestions. I found a copy of QB 2004 Basic on Ebay for $15. That qualifies as cheap.

The husband used QB Premier Professional Services Edition 2004. Will Basic open a file prepared in Professional? The titles of the files I have look like trial balances.

Thanks for your patience with me.

Bill