Written BySandra MitchellPersonal Finance Writer & Bookkeeper

Reviewed ByPatricia WalshFormer Intuit Technical Support Lead

QuickBooks Error PS038: Paychecks Stuck as "Online to Send"

Get Payroll Updates and Paychecks Moving Again

Payday is not the day you want to see Error PS038. It appears when you try to download payroll updates or send payroll data, and QuickBooks finds paychecks stuck with the status "Online to Send." Until those paychecks go through, payroll updates and direct deposit can stall.

This guide walks you through finding the stuck paychecks and getting payroll moving again.

"Error PS038: QuickBooks can't send your payroll data. One or more paychecks are stuck as Online to Send."

What's in This Guide:

▶ What Is QuickBooks Error PS038?

▶ Why Does Error PS038 Happen?

▶ Quick Reference

▶ How to Prevent Error PS038

▶ FAQs

Payroll administrator fixing QuickBooks Error PS038 on payday

What Is QuickBooks Error PS038?

Error PS038 is a QuickBooks Desktop Payroll error. It means one or more paychecks haven't been sent to Intuit's payroll service. Those stuck paychecks block payroll updates and, for direct deposit customers, can delay payments.

Payroll needs a supported version. QuickBooks Desktop Payroll requires an active payroll subscription and a version of QuickBooks still within Intuit's support window. If you're on a version past its support window, such as 2021, payroll services aren't available and you'll need an outside payroll service instead.

Why Does Error PS038 Happen?

Paychecks stuck as Online to Send

A paycheck was created but never transmitted, often because sending was interrupted.

Out-of-date QuickBooks or tax table

An old release or payroll tax table can stop data from sending.

Damaged paycheck data

A problem in the company file can stop QuickBooks from processing a paycheck.

Payroll subscription or version issue

An expired subscription or an unsupported QuickBooks version blocks payroll services.

How to Fix QuickBooks Error PS038, Step by Step

FIX #1

Update QuickBooks and Your Payroll Tax Table

Step 1 Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop > Update Now, tick Reset Update, and click Get Updates.

Step 2 Restart QuickBooks when the update finishes.

Step 3 Go to Employees > Get Payroll Updates, tick Download Entire Update, and click Download Latest Update.

Step 4 Try sending payroll again under Employees > Send Payroll Data.

FIX #2

Find the Stuck Paychecks

Step 1 Go to Edit > Find > Advanced.

Step 2 Under Choose Filter, select Detail Level and choose Summary Only.

Step 3 Add another filter: Online Status set to Online to Send.

Step 4 Click Find. The list shows every paycheck that hasn't been sent. Note them down.

FIX #3

Verify and Rebuild Your Data

Step 1 Go to File > Utilities > Verify Data. If problems are found, continue.

Step 2 Make a backup when prompted, then go to File > Utilities > Rebuild Data.

Step 3 When it finishes, run Verify Data again to confirm.

Step 4 Try sending payroll data again.

FIX #4

Open and Re-Save Each Stuck Paycheck

Step 1 From your Find results, open the first stuck paycheck.

Step 2 Click Paycheck Detail, then on the review screen click OK without changing anything.

Step 3 Choose Save & Close. If asked whether to save changes, choose Yes.

Step 4 Repeat for each stuck paycheck, then go to Employees > Send Payroll Data and click Send.

Check your subscription. Go to Employees > My Payroll Service > Account/Billing Info to confirm your payroll subscription is active. An expired subscription causes payroll errors that look like PS038.

Quick Reference

Situation	Try first
Error appears when downloading updates	Fix #1
You know a paycheck didn't send	Fix #2, then Fix #4
Errors in other payroll tasks too	Fix #3
Version past Intuit's support window	Use an outside payroll service

How to Prevent Error PS038

Send payroll data right after creating paychecks
Keep QuickBooks and your payroll tax table updated before every payroll run
Run Verify Data monthly
Keep your payroll subscription current

Frequently Asked Questions About Error PS038

Can I run payroll in QuickBooks 2021?

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll requires a version within Intuit's support window, so QuickBooks 2021 can no longer use Intuit payroll services. Many businesses use an outside payroll company and record payroll totals in QuickBooks.

Will fixing PS038 delay my employees' pay?

Fixing the stuck paychecks quickly is the best way to avoid delays. If direct deposit deadlines are close, contact Intuit payroll support as well.

What does "Online to Send" mean?

It means a paycheck was created in QuickBooks but hasn't been transmitted to Intuit's payroll service yet.

Payroll Still Stuck? Talk to Us.

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