What Causes QuickBooks Error PS038 & How to Fix it?

QuickBooks, along with its payroll services, provides a comprehensive solution for all accounting related business processes. It serves ideally for small and medium-sized enterprises but may produce errors at times. One such error is QuickBooks Error PS038, which usually appears when you try to download the Payroll updates. You may also encounter the error in other instances, such as the paycheck getting stuck while sending it. You will get to learn the reasons behind this QuickBooks PS038 and also its troubleshooting methods through this article.

“If you come across QuickBooks Error PS038 while downloading your Payroll update, then you can call us at our helpline number 1-(855)-856-0042 for help”

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Reasons that cause Error QuickBooks PS038

Various reasons can prompt the error code PS038 in QuickBooks software. We need to understand these reasons to be able to resolve the error easily. These have been listed below for you:

• Outdated QuickBooks application might become incompatible when trying to update payroll giving the error.
• Damage in the company file is the most prominent reason behind the QuickBooks error PS038.
• You may get the error when you try to validate your payroll subscription after recovering the current QB Payroll update.

The PS038 error may appear while working on the payroll or while updating it. Different reasons prompt the error in these situations and thus need different approaches for resolution. In the next section, we will deal with the detailed troubleshooting methods to get rid of the error.

How to Fix QuickBooks Payroll Update Error PS038?

Here is a detailed guide to fix “QuickBooks PS038”. Follow the steps as provided below:

1. Go to the ‘File’ menu and then select the ‘Utilities’ option.
2. Click on the ‘Rebuild Data’ option and then click on the ‘OK’ button.

• QuickBooks will prompt you to create a backup of your file before you rebuild your data.
• Press the ‘OK’ button.
• Select the ‘Backup Preferences’ option to update or set up the preferences for backup.
• Click on the ‘OK’ button when the rebuild process completes.
• Now, after rebuilding the data, you need to verify your data.
• Go to the ‘File’ menu again and then to the ‘Utilities’ section.
• Select the ‘Verify Data’ option and then click on ‘OK.’

The above steps should help you resolve the error if it occurs while updating your QuickBooks Payroll application.

How to Resolve PS038 Error While Running Payroll

If you get Error PS038: When paychecks get stuck as “Online to Send,” updating the QuickBooks Payroll is the first troubleshooting method that should be applied. Follow the steps as provided below:

Method 1: Updating the QuickBooks Desktop and Tax Table in Payroll

Step 1: Run QB as Administrator & check for update

1. Close the Company file and the QuickBooks application.
2. Right-click on the QuickBooks Desktop icon and then select the ‘Run as administrator’ option.
3. Click on the ‘Help’ menu and select the ‘Update QuickBooks Desktop’ option.

• From the ‘Options’ tab, select the ‘Mark All’ button and then click on ‘Save.’
• Click on the ‘Update Now’ tab and click on the ‘Reset Update’ option.
• Click on the ‘Get Updates’ button.
  
  
• When the update download completes, close the application.
• Open the application again and then click on the ‘Yes’ button to install the updates.
• Restart your computer now for the changes to take effect.

Step 2: After this, you should download the latest tax table in QuickBooks Payroll. The steps are as follows:

1. Go to the ‘Employees’ menu.
2. Click on the ‘Get Payroll Updates’ option and then select the ‘Download Entire Update’ checkbox.
3. Click on the ‘Download Latest Update’ option now.

Now you have downloaded the latest QuickBooks Desktop update and installed it. You have also downloaded the latest tax table for QuickBooks Payroll. Now, follow the steps provided below:

1. Click on the ‘Employees’ option and then select the ‘My Payroll Service’ option.
   
   
2. Press the ‘Send Usage Data’ option and the ‘Send Payroll Data’ option.

If the data is sent successfully, you should be free of the QuickBooks error PS038. If the error persists, then follow the next method.

Method 2: Resolving Stuck Paychecks in Payroll

If you are getting paycheck stuck as online to send issue, then you need to identify the stuck paychecks and then follow the steps to resolve the Error PS038 QuickBooks:

1. Click on the ‘Edit’ option and then press ‘Find.’
2. Click on the ‘Advanced’ tab.
3. From the ‘Choose Filter’ section, click on the ‘Filter’ list and select the ‘Detail Level’ option.
4. Select the ‘Summary Only’ option.
5. Reach the ‘Choose Filter’ section.
6. Click on the ‘Filter’ list and select the ‘Online Status’ option.
7. Choose the ‘Online to Send’ option.
8. Click on ‘Find’ to paychecks tose status are pending or haven’t been sent yet.
9. Perform the ‘Verify and Rebuild’ data action once again to resolve the error.

Note: If the verify and rebuild data failed to recognize the stuck paycheck, it means the company file had been condensed included with the paycheck’s date. Another reason can be that an Accountant’s copy is needed to merge.

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Need Further assistance For Error QuickBooks PS038?

These steps should resolve the issue of stuck paychecks and resolve the QuickBooks error PS038. Through this article, we discussed the various reasons behind the error and the methods that can be applied to resolve it. If you are still facing the error and need help from an expert to get rid of it, then contact us at our ProAdvisor Solutions Helpline Number 1-(855)-856-0042.