6 Ways to Troubleshoot the QuickBooks Error PS034

The QuickBooks error PS034 is an error that can occur while you try to download and install the latest QBDT Payroll updates. This error can occur due to an inactive or invalidated payroll subscription, or your Firewall blocking the QB Desktop app. It can hamper your workflow and interfere with your important payroll processes like sending paychecks and calculating taxes. You can resolve it by verifying your payroll service key. In this blog, we’ll talk about the in-depth troubleshooting methods to fix the PS034 error in QuickBooks Desktop. First, let’s start with the causes of error PS034.

QuickBooks Error PS034 – A Quick View Table

In the table below is given a concise summary of this blog on the topic of the QuickBooks error code PS034:

Description	The QuickBooks error PS034 can occur while a user tries to download and install the latest payroll and tax table updates. This can hamper your workflow and important business processes.
Its causes	An outdated QB Desktop app, the Firewall blocking your QBDT software, an incorrect payroll service key, an expired or invalid payroll subscription, paychecks stuck as online to send, and an unstable internet connection.
Ways to fix it	Check the payroll service subscription and service key, update the QuickBooks Desktop software, use Quick Fix My Program, make Firewall exceptions for QB Desktop, identify and clear paychecks stuck as online to send, and send the payroll/usage data.

Troubleshooting the QuickBooks Error Code PS034 | Guided Solutions

Listed below are the troubleshooting methods you can implement to fix the QuickBooks update error PS034:

Check the Payroll Service Subscription

You can check and verify the payroll service key and subscription to fix error PS034 with the following steps:

1. Close all your company files
2. Exit QB Desktop
3. Restart your PC
   
4. Open QuickBooks Desktop
5. Navigate to the Employees menu
6. Select the My Payroll Service option
7. Click on Manage Service Key
   
8. The following fields should display Active:
   • Service Name
   • Status
9. Click on Edit and verify the service key number
10. If it’s incorrect, enter the correct service key number
11. Press Next
12. Unmark the Open Payroll Setup checkbox
13. Click on Finish

This would download the entire payroll update.

Update the QuickBooks Desktop App

An outdated QB Desktop app can cause your payroll update to fail and display error PS034 on your screen. You should update your QB Desktop to the latest version to fix this and any other issues you might be dealing with.

Use Quick Fix My Program from the Tool Hub

You can use the Quick Fix My Program tool from the Tool Hub to resolve QuickBooks error PS034 with the following steps:

1. Download and install the QuickBooks Tool Hub
2. Open the QB Tool Hub app
3. Navigate to the Program Problems tab
4. Click on Quick Fix My Program
   
5. Let the tool run

This would resolve the QB error code PS034.

Make Windows Firewall Exclusions for QB

The Windows Firewall might be blocking your QuickBooks executable files. To resolve error PS034, you would need to make exceptions for the files given in the table below:

QB executable files	Their location
AutoBackupExe.exe	C:\Program Files\Intuit\QUICKBOOKS YEAR
Dbmlsync.exe	C:\Program Files\Intuit\QUICKBOOKS YEAR
DBManagerExe.exe	C:\Program Files\Intuit\QUICKBOOKS YEAR
FileManagement.exe	C:\Program Files\Intuit\QUICKBOOKS YEAR
FileMovementExe.exe	C:\Program Files\Intuit\QUICKBOOKS YEAR
QuickBooksMessaging.exe	C:\Program Files\Intuit\QUICKBOOKS YEAR
QBW32.exe	C:\Program Files\Intuit\QUICKBOOKS YEAR
QBDBMgrN.exe	C:\Program Files\Intuit\QUICKBOOKS YEAR
QBServerUtilityMgr.exe	C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks
QBCFMonitorService.exe	C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks
QBLaunch.exe	C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks
QBUpdate.exe	C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\QBUpdate
IntuitSyncManager.exe	C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\Sync
OnlineBackup.exe	C:\Program Files\QuickBooks Online Backup

Now, you need to make exceptions for these files with the following steps:

1. Open the Start menu
2. Search for the Windows Firewall
   
3. Open the Windows Firewall
4. Click on Advanced Settings
   
5. Right-click on Inbound Rules
6. Now, select the New Rule option
7. Click on Program and hit Next
8. Choose This Program Path
9. Select Browse
10. Find the location of one of the executable files given in the table above
11. Select the file and press Next
12. Click on Allow the Connection
13. Press Next
14. Ensure all profiles are marked if you are prompted
15. Hit Next
16. Create a rule
17. Name it something like QBFirewallException(name.exe)
18. Repeat the steps for every executable file

You would have to repeat these steps to create outbound rules. To create them, just click on Outbound Rules after selecting Advanced Settings.

Identify and Toggle the Paychecks Stuck as Online to Send

You can resolve the QuickBooks error PS034 by identifying and toggling the paychecks stuck as online to send with the following steps:

1. Open the QuickBooks Desktop app
2. Navigate to the Edit menu
3. Click on Find
4. Then, move to the Advanced tab
5. Go to the Choose Filter section
6. Select Detail Level from the Filter list
7. Press Summary Only
8. Move back to the Filter list
9. Scroll down and select Online Status
10. Then, select Online to Send
11. Now, press Find
12. You’ll see the paychecks that weren’t sent to Intuit
13. Open the oldest stuck paycheck
14. Click on the Paycheck Detail button
15. Go to the Review Paycheck window
16. Now, under the Earnings section, add the same earnings item as the last earnings item in the list
    • For example, if the last item in the list is hourly rate, you should add another item named hourly rate to the list
17. The Net Pay Locked message would pop up
18. Select No
19. Ensure that the tax amounts and net pay don’t change
20. Hit OK
21. Select Yes if you see the Past Transaction message
22. Hit Save & Close
23. Press Yes to the warning message stating Recording Transaction
24. Open the paycheck again
25. Click on the Paycheck Details button
26. Delete the earnings item you just added in the earnings section
27. Ensure that the tax amounts and net pay don’t change
28. Click on OK
29. Repeat the steps for every stuck paycheck

Performing these steps would fix the QuickBooks error PS034.

Send the Payroll Data or the Usage Data

Try to send the payroll data or the usage data with the following steps:

1. Open the QB Desktop app
2. Navigate to the Employees menu
3. Click on My Payroll Service
   
4. Select Send Usage Data
   • If this option is not visible, follow the next step
5. Go to the Employees menu
6. Press Send Payroll Data
   
7. Choose the Select All option in the Send/Receive Payroll Data window
8. If you are prompted, enter the payroll service PIN

If you are able to successfully send the data, try to download the payroll updates again.

Factors that Can Cause the QuickBooks Error PS034

Given below are the factors that can trigger the QuickBooks error code PS034 to appear on your screen:

1. An outdated QuickBooks Desktop application
2. The Windows Firewall might be blocking QBDT
3. Damaged file in the CPS folder
4. Incorrect internet connection settings of your PC
5. An unstable network connection

These were the causes of the QuickBooks error PS034. Now, let us take a look at the methods to fix it.

Conclusion

In this blog, we talked about the QuickBooks error PS034 and the factors that can cause this error code to appear on your workstation’s screen. Moreover, we provided you with in-depth guided troubleshooting methods you can implement to resolve this problem on your own.

FAQs

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