Lost password for Quickbooks

[Getback]

A client of mine has lost his password to quickbooks. My first thought was to back up the data using Acronis and then reinstall QuickBooks (Assuming he has the original software). Then doing an internet search I found several programs that will erase the old password so that you can use a new password.

Any of you have any experience with this?

[Dragon]

I never lost my Quickbooks password, but I can imagine the pain of not remembering it.

[Dichotomy]

a dumb question but did he consider contacting quickbooks and see if there was a way to reset it?

[Getback]

a dumb question but did he consider contacting quickbooks and see if there was a way to reset it?

I researched and quickbooks has a method for unlocking it. However, he bought the business and I wonder if he has all the information.

What happened is the guy who was running the business for him was busted for illegal drugs and sent to jail. He has the Password. Since then the city police, the IRS, the state revenue service have all been calling. This poor guy was just hammered. Not his fault for the drugs but hey it was is business and he should have kept tabs on it and hired the right people. That's done. What I need to do is focus on how I can reduce this guy's tax liability. I think the IRS made up the numbers since they didn't have access to the books.

If I accept the client I have a ton of work to do.

[Dichotomy]

You probably have a ton more expertise in these matters than I do so I'm sure you've thought of this but I'll throw it out there for consideration. 

A) I'm sure there's a way he can contact his former employee.  He may not want to but he can and he can at least ask what the pw was.  I think, and I could be wrong, but intellectual property including passwords and so on have to be provided by the employee by law upon termination of employment either voluntarily or involuntarily. 

B) He could contact Quickbooks and prove he's the owner of the business.  Subsequently even if he doesn't have all of the information I think anything bought and installed on his computers (property) legally belongs to him.  Skuzzy probably knows better than I. 

(I bet I'm making a huge bellybutton out of myself unintentionally for a change)

I could do a little research tomorrow to help you out.  If you need somebody to kill some time that has time to kill shoot me a pm and I'll do some poking around if you like.

[Getback]

You probably have a ton more expertise in these matters than I do so I'm sure you've thought of this but I'll throw it out there for consideration. 

A) I'm sure there's a way he can contact his former employee.  He may not want to but he can and he can at least ask what the pw was.  I think, and I could be wrong, but intellectual property including passwords and so on have to be provided by the employee by law upon termination of employment either voluntarily or involuntarily. 

B) He could contact Quickbooks and prove he's the owner of the business.  Subsequently even if he doesn't have all of the information I think anything bought and installed on his computers (property) legally belongs to him.  Skuzzy probably knows better than I. 

(I bet I'm making a huge bellybutton out of myself unintentionally for a change)

I could do a little research tomorrow to help you out.  If you need somebody to kill some time that has time to kill shoot me a pm and I'll do some poking around if you like.

No, you are not making an bellybutton out of yourself at all. I've thought of all these things for sure and I need to ask some questions. What makes me think they never got the password is the Police called my Mom to see if she had the Password. She didn't. The guy owns two businesses and she does the books for the other one.

I will probably get in touch with Quickbooks (intuit) if I should take the client.

What bothers me is why didn't the guy give up the Password? I started to wonder if I should leave this alone and just compile the statements with the just the supporting documents.

[Dichotomy]

definitely sounds like it could turn into a cesspool quickly... I guess you'd have to weigh if the fee you took was worth all of the headaches you might have to endure. 


Good luck either way 

[JTs]

i know form personal experience that when the IRS doesn't have access to your books they make an educated guess (almost impossible for a government agency) as to what your tax liability should be. this sounds bad and you should really think about getting the tax lawyers involved sooner rather than latter

[Getback]

No, you are not making a sweetie out of yourself at all. I've thought of all these things for sure and I need to ask some questions. What makes me think they never got the password is the Police called my Mom to see if she had the Password. She didn't. The guy owns two businesses and she does the books for the other one.

I will probably get in touch with Quickbooks (intuit) if I should take the client.

What bothers me is why didn't the guy give up the Password? I started to wonder if I should leave this alone and just compile the statements with the just the supporting documents.

Uh! I didn't use the word sweetie. Pyro has a mean streak.

I am thinking about the tax attorney.

[Dichotomy]

no worries...    I've been called worse.. usually by 8 am...

[Getback]

no worries...    I've been called worse.. usually by 8 am...

 

Well ya gotta start your day right.

[Dichotomy]

InDEED!!!!!