QuickBooks 2026 Transition Support

Why Your QuickBooks Looks Different in 2026

Date: January 5, 2026

QuickBooks didn’t just update the interface — they rebuilt the entire workflow to match new IRS expectations created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2025. These are federal compliance changes, not software preferences.

If your screen doesn’t match the tutorials, it’s because the tutorials are now outdated.

These changes affect:

• How expenses are recorded

• How personal‑paid business expenses must be entered

• How payment accounts work

• How equity contributions are categorized

• How bank‑type accounts are defined

• How your books must align with IRS reporting

This is not optional.
This is compliance.

OBBBA Applies to ALL Accounting Software

QuickBooks is not the only platform affected.
OBBBA requires every accounting software to follow the same IRS‑aligned workflow.

This means:

• Leaving QuickBooks will NOT fix the issue

• Wave, Xero, Zoho, FreshBooks, and others must follow the same rules

• The IRS digital‑trail requirements follow YOU, not the software

Your software didn’t cause the problem — the IRS changes did.

QuickBooks is simply the first major platform to update its interface to match the new law.

The Biggest Shift: Personal‑Paid Business Expenses

In the NEW QuickBooks (2026 IRS‑aligned workflow):

• Payment Account only accepts bank‑type accounts

• Equity accounts (like Owner’s Contribution) will never appear in the Payment Account list

• Cash on hand is now treated like a bank account

• Owner’s Contribution belongs in the Category section

✔️ The Correct 2026 Method

If you paid for business expenses out of your personal account:

• Payment Account → Cash on hand

• Category → Owner’s Contribution

• Split → Actual business categories (Insurance, Supplies, Fuel, etc.)

This keeps your books clean, simple, and IRS‑ready.

If your QuickBooks doesn’t match the tutorials you’re watching, it’s because those tutorials were written before OBBBA — and they are no longer compliant.

Where I Come In

I’m Christy Eliser, a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor specializing in helping:

• Contractors

• Freelancers

• Gig workers

• Small business owners

transition into the new 2026 IRS‑aligned workflow.

I help you:

• Fix categories that no longer work

• Correct personal‑paid business expenses

• Clean up outdated workflows

• Rebuild your file to match OBBBA requirements

• Prevent reporting issues before tax season

• Keep your books clean, accurate, and compliant

You don’t need to switch software.
You need someone who understands the new rules.

Get “Steady” for $99

One‑Month Reconciliation & Compliance Audit — $99

This includes:

• A full review of your file

• Identification of OBBBA‑related errors

• Cleanup recommendations

• Category corrections

• Workflow adjustments

• A clear plan to get your books compliant

This is the easiest way to see the difference clean, accurate, IRS‑aligned books can make.

Ready to Get Your Books Back on Track?

Call or text: 504‑575‑4671
Steady Numbers — bookkeeping made simple, even when QuickBooks isn’t.