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Subject Author Date
Can a CPA with QB2008 open a QB2009 file? Len501 09-10-2009
Posted by Len501 on September 10, 2009, 12:54 pm
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I think I already know the answer to this, but I have to ask.

We have QB2009 Pro. Our CPA/accountant asked for a copy of our QB file. We
made a backup and brought it to him. He said he cannot restore/open the
file because he only has QB2008.

There is no way for him to open our QB2009 file unless he has QB2009 (not
QB2008), correct? I assume QB2010 is not out yet.

Is there anything with our single user QB2009 license that would allow him
to also use our single user license as our accountant?

If we gave him an accountant's copy of our QB2009 file, would he be able to
open it with QB2008?

And, yes, it sure seems like he should already have a 2009 version of QB
since he is a CPA/accountant with a full time accounting business..



Posted by Laura on September 10, 2009, 1:23 pm
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>I think I already know the answer to this, but I have to ask.
>
> We have QB2009 Pro. Our CPA/accountant asked for a copy of our QB file.
> We made a backup and brought it to him. He said he cannot restore/open
> the file because he only has QB2008.
>
> There is no way for him to open our QB2009 file unless he has QB2009 (not
> QB2008), correct? I assume QB2010 is not out yet.

You are correct. He needs QB2009 in order to open up your file. 2010 is not
out yet.

Is there a particular reason why the cpa needs to see your actual file?
Would dumping the General ledger for the year to excel be enough for him to
see your transactions? Or does he want to make changes or adjustments to
your file that require access to the file?

Would remote access into your computer be possible? That would elimate the
need to get a copy of 2009.

It's too bad you did not post this yesterday. Staples or Office Depot had a
1-day special for 2009 Pro for $70. Your CPA could have picked up a copy
real cheap.

> Is there anything with our single user QB2009 license that would allow him
> to also use our single user license as our accountant?

The software won't prevent him from installing the program. It is a
violation of the EULA but that does not stop most people.

If he has no intentions of keeping up with his clients he could download a
trial copy or install your copy without registering it. It will give him a
limited number of uses and/or days to use the program.

> If we gave him an accountant's copy of our QB2009 file, would he be able
> to open it with QB2008?

From the 2009 help file:

If your client sends you an Accountant's Copy from an earlier version of
QuickBooks, you may not be able to use it.

You can open Accountant's Copy files created from QuickBooks 2008. If you
work in a QuickBooks 2008 Accountant's Copy, the file is upgraded to
QuickBooks 2009 when you open it, but your client can still import your
changes into his or her QuickBooks 2008 company file. Be aware that what you
can and cannot do in an Accountant's Copy from QuickBooks 2008 is restricted
to the way the features worked in that version of QuickBooks. The detailed
information about what you can do in an Accountant's Copy explains the
restrictions and the highlighting conventions.

You cannot open an Accountant's Copy created from QuickBooks 2007 or earlier
in QuickBooks 2009. Use the version of QuickBooks your client is using.
Also, consider asking your client for a copy of the company file (.qbw),
backup (.qbb), or portable file (.QBM).

You can convert an Accountant's Copy (.qba) created in QuickBooks 2008 or
later to a company file. However, the company file will be a QuickBooks 2009
file and your client will not be able to open it in QuickBooks 2008 or
earlier.

Note: You cannot convert an Accountant's Copy transfer file (.qbx) created
in QuickBooks 2008 or later to a company file. You can convert the transfer
file to a QuickBooks 2009 Accountant's Copy file (.qba) and then convert
that file to a company file (.qbw).

> And, yes, it sure seems like he should already have a 2009 version of QB
> since he is a CPA/accountant with a full time accounting business..

One would think that. But if his primary business is doing taxes he may just
have most of his clients print out their financials without actually looking
at their file. That's what my accountant does. I never give him my QB file.
But he should still be keeping up with the software versions that his
clients are using. 2009 has been out for almost a year. He'll run into more
clients this tax season that are using 2009 so he should just bite the
bullet and get a copy.


Posted by Len501 on September 10, 2009, 2:17 pm
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Thanks so much for such a thoughtful and thorough response.

As I suspected, you confirmed that he cannot open our QB2009 file without a
2009 version of QuickBooks.

The accountant needs the actual file because he is doing a required annual
independent financial audit of our compnay. So, he's not really "our"
accountant as I originally wrote -- he is an independent financial auditor.

I could probably figure out a way that he could access our computer
remotely, but I really don't want to do that for a variety of reasons --
i.e. security, 2 people accessing and/or making changes to the same file
creating an internal controls problem, and I assume the inability of 2
people to use the same file at the same time with only one user license.
But, it was an interesting idea.

I'll pass on the idea that maybe he could install our copy of the software,
never register it, and use it for free for a limited number of uses before
it is registered. I'll also pass on the idea that he could do the same
thing by downloading a trial verion of the software.

Having him install our registered software on a second computer (his)
wouldn't work because: 1) he is an independent financial auditor of our
company so his using our software in violation of the EULA would be a bad
idea; and, 2) I think if he and we were using the same registered software
on two different computers at the same time, Intuit would probably figure
that out when the software "phones home" every time it is used.

I just checked and QB2009 is now on sale for $99.99 at Office Depot,
OfficeMax, and Best Buy. That seems like the oh-so-obvious way to go. He
would still only have a single-user version of the software, but that would
have to do for now. Maybe he is stalling and only updates his QB software
every 2 years instead of every year.

Thanks again. Sorry I didn't explain up front about him actually being our
independent financial auditor instead of our private accountant. I left
that out thinking that would just make my post more complicated. But, I
wasn't expecting that you would come up with such creative ideas that maybe
would have worked if he was our private accountant and not our auditor.

Laura wrote:
>> I think I already know the answer to this, but I have to ask.
>>
>> We have QB2009 Pro. Our CPA/accountant asked for a copy of our QB
>> file. We made a backup and brought it to him. He said he cannot
>> restore/open the file because he only has QB2008.
>>
>> There is no way for him to open our QB2009 file unless he has QB2009
>> (not QB2008), correct? I assume QB2010 is not out yet.
>
> You are correct. He needs QB2009 in order to open up your file. 2010
> is not out yet.
>
> Is there a particular reason why the cpa needs to see your actual
> file? Would dumping the General ledger for the year to excel be
> enough for him to see your transactions? Or does he want to make
> changes or adjustments to your file that require access to the file?
>
> Would remote access into your computer be possible? That would
> elimate the need to get a copy of 2009.
>
> It's too bad you did not post this yesterday. Staples or Office Depot
> had a 1-day special for 2009 Pro for $70. Your CPA could have picked
> up a copy real cheap.
>
>> Is there anything with our single user QB2009 license that would
>> allow him to also use our single user license as our accountant?
>
> The software won't prevent him from installing the program. It is a
> violation of the EULA but that does not stop most people.
>
> If he has no intentions of keeping up with his clients he could
> download a trial copy or install your copy without registering it. It
> will give him a limited number of uses and/or days to use the program.
>
>> If we gave him an accountant's copy of our QB2009 file, would he be
>> able to open it with QB2008?
>
> From the 2009 help file:
>
> If your client sends you an Accountant's Copy from an earlier version
> of QuickBooks, you may not be able to use it.
>
> You can open Accountant's Copy files created from QuickBooks 2008. If
> you work in a QuickBooks 2008 Accountant's Copy, the file is upgraded
> to QuickBooks 2009 when you open it, but your client can still import
> your changes into his or her QuickBooks 2008 company file. Be aware
> that what you can and cannot do in an Accountant's Copy from
> QuickBooks 2008 is restricted to the way the features worked in that
> version of QuickBooks. The detailed information about what you can do
> in an Accountant's Copy explains the restrictions and the
> highlighting conventions.
> You cannot open an Accountant's Copy created from QuickBooks 2007 or
> earlier in QuickBooks 2009. Use the version of QuickBooks your client
> is using. Also, consider asking your client for a copy of the company
> file (.qbw), backup (.qbb), or portable file (.QBM).
>
> You can convert an Accountant's Copy (.qba) created in QuickBooks
> 2008 or later to a company file. However, the company file will be a
> QuickBooks 2009 file and your client will not be able to open it in
> QuickBooks 2008 or earlier.
>
> Note: You cannot convert an Accountant's Copy transfer file (.qbx)
> created in QuickBooks 2008 or later to a company file. You can
> convert the transfer file to a QuickBooks 2009 Accountant's Copy file
> (.qba) and then convert that file to a company file (.qbw).
>
>> And, yes, it sure seems like he should already have a 2009 version
>> of QB since he is a CPA/accountant with a full time accounting
>> business..
>
> One would think that. But if his primary business is doing taxes he
> may just have most of his clients print out their financials without
> actually looking at their file. That's what my accountant does. I
> never give him my QB file. But he should still be keeping up with the
> software versions that his clients are using. 2009 has been out for
> almost a year. He'll run into more clients this tax season that are
> using 2009 so he should just bite the bullet and get a copy.



Posted by Laura on September 10, 2009, 3:47 pm
Please log in for more thread options


Glad to help.

His being an indep auditor changes my answer only slightly: It is
understandable that he might not have up-to-date software. Many audits don't
take place untl after the taxes are filed. You may be the first audit using
2009 software but he still needs to upgrade in any case. My one condo
association client does their audit in May but the accountant does not take
a copy of the file. She asks for the financials and a copy of the general
ledger report. Your cpa may find it easier to just drill down account by
account while checking things instead of dealing with paper reports. Every
cpa has a different style.

> Thanks so much for such a thoughtful and thorough response.
>
> As I suspected, you confirmed that he cannot open our QB2009 file without
> a 2009 version of QuickBooks.
>
> The accountant needs the actual file because he is doing a required annual
> independent financial audit of our compnay. So, he's not really "our"
> accountant as I originally wrote -- he is an independent financial
> auditor.
>
> I could probably figure out a way that he could access our computer
> remotely, but I really don't want to do that for a variety of reasons --
> i.e. security, 2 people accessing and/or making changes to the same file
> creating an internal controls problem, and I assume the inability of 2
> people to use the same file at the same time with only one user license.
> But, it was an interesting idea.
>
> I'll pass on the idea that maybe he could install our copy of the
> software, never register it, and use it for free for a limited number of
> uses before it is registered. I'll also pass on the idea that he could do
> the same thing by downloading a trial verion of the software.
>
> Having him install our registered software on a second computer (his)
> wouldn't work because: 1) he is an independent financial auditor of our
> company so his using our software in violation of the EULA would be a bad
> idea; and, 2) I think if he and we were using the same registered software
> on two different computers at the same time, Intuit would probably figure
> that out when the software "phones home" every time it is used.
>
> I just checked and QB2009 is now on sale for $99.99 at Office Depot,
> OfficeMax, and Best Buy. That seems like the oh-so-obvious way to go. He
> would still only have a single-user version of the software, but that
> would have to do for now. Maybe he is stalling and only updates his QB
> software every 2 years instead of every year.
>
> Thanks again. Sorry I didn't explain up front about him actually being
> our independent financial auditor instead of our private accountant. I
> left that out thinking that would just make my post more complicated.
> But, I wasn't expecting that you would come up with such creative ideas
> that maybe would have worked if he was our private accountant and not our
> auditor.
>
> Laura wrote:
>>> I think I already know the answer to this, but I have to ask.
>>>
>>> We have QB2009 Pro. Our CPA/accountant asked for a copy of our QB
>>> file. We made a backup and brought it to him. He said he cannot
>>> restore/open the file because he only has QB2008.
>>>
>>> There is no way for him to open our QB2009 file unless he has QB2009
>>> (not QB2008), correct? I assume QB2010 is not out yet.
>>
>> You are correct. He needs QB2009 in order to open up your file. 2010
>> is not out yet.
>>
>> Is there a particular reason why the cpa needs to see your actual
>> file? Would dumping the General ledger for the year to excel be
>> enough for him to see your transactions? Or does he want to make
>> changes or adjustments to your file that require access to the file?
>>
>> Would remote access into your computer be possible? That would
>> elimate the need to get a copy of 2009.
>>
>> It's too bad you did not post this yesterday. Staples or Office Depot
>> had a 1-day special for 2009 Pro for $70. Your CPA could have picked
>> up a copy real cheap.
>>
>>> Is there anything with our single user QB2009 license that would
>>> allow him to also use our single user license as our accountant?
>>
>> The software won't prevent him from installing the program. It is a
>> violation of the EULA but that does not stop most people.
>>
>> If he has no intentions of keeping up with his clients he could
>> download a trial copy or install your copy without registering it. It
>> will give him a limited number of uses and/or days to use the program.
>>
>>> If we gave him an accountant's copy of our QB2009 file, would he be
>>> able to open it with QB2008?
>>
>> From the 2009 help file:
>>
>> If your client sends you an Accountant's Copy from an earlier version
>> of QuickBooks, you may not be able to use it.
>>
>> You can open Accountant's Copy files created from QuickBooks 2008. If
>> you work in a QuickBooks 2008 Accountant's Copy, the file is upgraded
>> to QuickBooks 2009 when you open it, but your client can still import
>> your changes into his or her QuickBooks 2008 company file. Be aware
>> that what you can and cannot do in an Accountant's Copy from
>> QuickBooks 2008 is restricted to the way the features worked in that
>> version of QuickBooks. The detailed information about what you can do
>> in an Accountant's Copy explains the restrictions and the
>> highlighting conventions.
>> You cannot open an Accountant's Copy created from QuickBooks 2007 or
>> earlier in QuickBooks 2009. Use the version of QuickBooks your client
>> is using. Also, consider asking your client for a copy of the company
>> file (.qbw), backup (.qbb), or portable file (.QBM).
>>
>> You can convert an Accountant's Copy (.qba) created in QuickBooks
>> 2008 or later to a company file. However, the company file will be a
>> QuickBooks 2009 file and your client will not be able to open it in
>> QuickBooks 2008 or earlier.
>>
>> Note: You cannot convert an Accountant's Copy transfer file (.qbx)
>> created in QuickBooks 2008 or later to a company file. You can
>> convert the transfer file to a QuickBooks 2009 Accountant's Copy file
>> (.qba) and then convert that file to a company file (.qbw).
>>
>>> And, yes, it sure seems like he should already have a 2009 version
>>> of QB since he is a CPA/accountant with a full time accounting
>>> business..
>>
>> One would think that. But if his primary business is doing taxes he
>> may just have most of his clients print out their financials without
>> actually looking at their file. That's what my accountant does. I
>> never give him my QB file. But he should still be keeping up with the
>> software versions that his clients are using. 2009 has been out for
>> almost a year. He'll run into more clients this tax season that are
>> using 2009 so he should just bite the bullet and get a copy.
>
>


Posted by Haskel LaPort on September 10, 2009, 8:57 pm
Please log in for more thread options



> Glad to help.
>
> His being an indep auditor changes my answer only slightly: It is
> understandable that he might not have up-to-date software. Many audits
> don't take place untl after the taxes are filed. You may be the first
> audit using 2009 software but he still needs to upgrade in any case. My
> one condo association client does their audit in May but the accountant
> does not take a copy of the file. She asks for the financials and a copy
> of the general ledger report. Your cpa may find it easier to just drill
> down account by account while checking things instead of dealing with
> paper reports. Every cpa has a different style.


There is absolutely no reason the auditor can not perform in a professional
manner an audit of the OP's books and records even though he/she does not
have software to open the files. The OP should be able to supply any and all
reports deemed necessary by the auditor.It is very possible that the auditor
performs audits of clients having many different brands of accounting
software. It is unreasonable to assume or expect the auditor to have a
licensed copy of the each and every software title or the ability to run
each one out there in the market place.


>
>> Thanks so much for such a thoughtful and thorough response.
>>
>> As I suspected, you confirmed that he cannot open our QB2009 file without
>> a 2009 version of QuickBooks.
>>
>> The accountant needs the actual file because he is doing a required
>> annual independent financial audit of our compnay. So, he's not really
>> "our" accountant as I originally wrote -- he is an independent financial
>> auditor.
>>
>> I could probably figure out a way that he could access our computer
>> remotely, but I really don't want to do that for a variety of reasons --
>> i.e. security, 2 people accessing and/or making changes to the same file
>> creating an internal controls problem, and I assume the inability of 2
>> people to use the same file at the same time with only one user license.
>> But, it was an interesting idea.
>>
>> I'll pass on the idea that maybe he could install our copy of the
>> software, never register it, and use it for free for a limited number of
>> uses before it is registered. I'll also pass on the idea that he could
>> do the same thing by downloading a trial verion of the software.
>>
>> Having him install our registered software on a second computer (his)
>> wouldn't work because: 1) he is an independent financial auditor of our
>> company so his using our software in violation of the EULA would be a bad
>> idea; and, 2) I think if he and we were using the same registered
>> software on two different computers at the same time, Intuit would
>> probably figure that out when the software "phones home" every time it is
>> used.
>>
>> I just checked and QB2009 is now on sale for $99.99 at Office Depot,
>> OfficeMax, and Best Buy. That seems like the oh-so-obvious way to go.
>> He would still only have a single-user version of the software, but that
>> would have to do for now. Maybe he is stalling and only updates his QB
>> software every 2 years instead of every year.
>>
>> Thanks again. Sorry I didn't explain up front about him actually being
>> our independent financial auditor instead of our private accountant. I
>> left that out thinking that would just make my post more complicated.
>> But, I wasn't expecting that you would come up with such creative ideas
>> that maybe would have worked if he was our private accountant and not our
>> auditor.
>>
>> Laura wrote:
>>>> I think I already know the answer to this, but I have to ask.
>>>>
>>>> We have QB2009 Pro. Our CPA/accountant asked for a copy of our QB
>>>> file. We made a backup and brought it to him. He said he cannot
>>>> restore/open the file because he only has QB2008.
>>>>
>>>> There is no way for him to open our QB2009 file unless he has QB2009
>>>> (not QB2008), correct? I assume QB2010 is not out yet.
>>>
>>> You are correct. He needs QB2009 in order to open up your file. 2010
>>> is not out yet.
>>>
>>> Is there a particular reason why the cpa needs to see your actual
>>> file? Would dumping the General ledger for the year to excel be
>>> enough for him to see your transactions? Or does he want to make
>>> changes or adjustments to your file that require access to the file?
>>>
>>> Would remote access into your computer be possible? That would
>>> elimate the need to get a copy of 2009.
>>>
>>> It's too bad you did not post this yesterday. Staples or Office Depot
>>> had a 1-day special for 2009 Pro for $70. Your CPA could have picked
>>> up a copy real cheap.
>>>
>>>> Is there anything with our single user QB2009 license that would
>>>> allow him to also use our single user license as our accountant?
>>>
>>> The software won't prevent him from installing the program. It is a
>>> violation of the EULA but that does not stop most people.
>>>
>>> If he has no intentions of keeping up with his clients he could
>>> download a trial copy or install your copy without registering it. It
>>> will give him a limited number of uses and/or days to use the program.
>>>
>>>> If we gave him an accountant's copy of our QB2009 file, would he be
>>>> able to open it with QB2008?
>>>
>>> From the 2009 help file:
>>>
>>> If your client sends you an Accountant's Copy from an earlier version
>>> of QuickBooks, you may not be able to use it.
>>>
>>> You can open Accountant's Copy files created from QuickBooks 2008. If
>>> you work in a QuickBooks 2008 Accountant's Copy, the file is upgraded
>>> to QuickBooks 2009 when you open it, but your client can still import
>>> your changes into his or her QuickBooks 2008 company file. Be aware
>>> that what you can and cannot do in an Accountant's Copy from
>>> QuickBooks 2008 is restricted to the way the features worked in that
>>> version of QuickBooks. The detailed information about what you can do
>>> in an Accountant's Copy explains the restrictions and the
>>> highlighting conventions.
>>> You cannot open an Accountant's Copy created from QuickBooks 2007 or
>>> earlier in QuickBooks 2009. Use the version of QuickBooks your client
>>> is using. Also, consider asking your client for a copy of the company
>>> file (.qbw), backup (.qbb), or portable file (.QBM).
>>>
>>> You can convert an Accountant's Copy (.qba) created in QuickBooks
>>> 2008 or later to a company file. However, the company file will be a
>>> QuickBooks 2009 file and your client will not be able to open it in
>>> QuickBooks 2008 or earlier.
>>>
>>> Note: You cannot convert an Accountant's Copy transfer file (.qbx)
>>> created in QuickBooks 2008 or later to a company file. You can
>>> convert the transfer file to a QuickBooks 2009 Accountant's Copy file
>>> (.qba) and then convert that file to a company file (.qbw).
>>>
>>>> And, yes, it sure seems like he should already have a 2009 version
>>>> of QB since he is a CPA/accountant with a full time accounting
>>>> business..
>>>
>>> One would think that. But if his primary business is doing taxes he
>>> may just have most of his clients print out their financials without
>>> actually looking at their file. That's what my accountant does. I
>>> never give him my QB file. But he should still be keeping up with the
>>> software versions that his clients are using. 2009 has been out for
>>> almost a year. He'll run into more clients this tax season that are
>>> using 2009 so he should just bite the bullet and get a copy.
>>
>>
>


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