How to Fix Quickbooks Tax and Printing Error 539?

Introduction

QuickBooks is a powerful tool for managing your business’s finances, and it’s widely used by small and medium-sized enterprises to track expenses, generate invoices, and manage payroll. However, as with any software, users occasionally run into problems that can disrupt their workflow. One such error is QuickBooks Tax and Printing Error 539.

This specific error can be frustrating, especially when it prevents you from printing important tax forms or documents. The error typically arises due to issues with printing settings or missing components in the software. If you’re facing this problem, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with a step-by-step guide to fix QuickBooks Tax and Printing Error 539 and get your business back on track.

What Is QuickBooks Tax and Printing Error 539?

QuickBooks Tax and Printing Error 539 is a printing-related error that primarily occurs when you try to print tax forms, pay stubs, or other financial documents directly from QuickBooks. This error is commonly associated with incorrect printer settings, missing printer drivers, or corrupt tax form templates.

The error message usually appears as: “Error 539: QuickBooks is unable to print tax forms.”

When this happens, QuickBooks fails to generate the required printed document, causing delays in tax filing or payroll processing.

Causes of QuickBooks Tax and Printing Error 539

Understanding the causes of this error can help you identify and fix it more quickly. The following are common reasons for QuickBooks Error 539:

1. Incorrect Printer Settings: Sometimes, a default printer may not be properly configured in QuickBooks.
2. Corrupted or Outdated Printer Drivers: If your printer driver is outdated or corrupted, QuickBooks may fail to communicate with the printer, resulting in an error.
3. Missing or Damaged Tax Form Templates: Missing or corrupted tax form templates may cause issues while printing tax-related documents.
4. QuickBooks Updates Needed: Running an outdated version of QuickBooks can also cause compatibility issues with printers.
5. Network Printer Issues: If you’re using a network printer, connectivity or configuration issues may lead to printing errors.
6. Windows Operating System Issues: In some cases, Windows components related to printing may become damaged or misconfigured, causing issues with QuickBooks.

Symptoms of QuickBooks Error 539

Recognizing the symptoms of QuickBooks Tax and Printing Error 539 can help you take immediate action. Here are some of the key symptoms:

• QuickBooks displays error message “Error 539: Unable to print tax forms” when trying to print tax documents, pay stubs, or invoices.
• Printing tax forms or other reports results in blank or incomplete pages.
• The printer fails to respond when QuickBooks tries to initiate a print command.
• QuickBooks crashes or freezes when you attempt to print.
• Certain tax forms (e.g., W-2, 1099, etc.) are missing or not formatted correctly.

How to Fix QuickBooks Tax and Printing Error 539

Now that you know what causes QuickBooks Error 539, let’s dive into the step-by-step methods to resolve the issue. Follow these steps to fix the error and get QuickBooks running smoothly again.

Step 1: Check Printer Settings in QuickBooks

The first thing you should do when encountering QuickBooks Error 539 is to check the printer settings. Incorrect or outdated printer configurations can cause issues when trying to print from QuickBooks.

1. Open QuickBooks and go to the File menu.
2. Select Printer Setup.
3. In the Printer Setup window, choose the type of form you want to print (e.g., pay stubs, tax forms).
4. Select the Correct Printer from the dropdown menu.
5. Make sure your default printer is properly configured and recognized by QuickBooks.
6. Click OK to save the settings and close the window.

Try printing again. If the issue persists, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Update Your Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted printer drivers can cause QuickBooks to malfunction when printing. Updating your printer drivers can fix issues related to printing errors.

1. Open the Device Manager on your computer by pressing Windows + X and selecting Device Manager.
2. Expand the Printers section, right-click your printer, and select Update Driver.
3. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
4. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
5. Restart your computer and try printing again in QuickBooks.

If you’re using a network printer, make sure the printer is connected properly to the network.

Step 3: Reinstall the Printer

If updating the drivers didn’t solve the problem, try uninstalling and reinstalling the printer. This ensures that the printer is set up correctly on your system.

1. Open Control Panel and go to Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click on your printer and select Remove device.
3. Once the printer is removed, click Add a printer and follow the prompts to reinstall the printer.
4. After reinstalling, return to QuickBooks and verify that the correct printer is selected in Printer Setup.

Now, try printing again to see if the error is resolved.

Step 4: Update QuickBooks to the Latest Version

Running an outdated version of QuickBooks can cause compatibility issues with printers. Updating QuickBooks to the latest version can help resolve printing errors and ensure your software is fully compatible with tax forms.

1. Open QuickBooks and click Help in the top menu.
2. Select Update QuickBooks Desktop.
3. If updates are available, click Get Updates.
4. Once the update is downloaded, restart QuickBooks.
5. Try printing your tax form or other documents again.

Step 5: Clear QuickBooks Print Queue

Sometimes, the print queue in QuickBooks can become corrupted, which may prevent documents from being printed. Clearing the print queue can help fix the issue.

1. Open QuickBooks and go to the File menu.
2. Select Printer Setup and choose the form you want to print.
3. Click Cancel and close QuickBooks.
4. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
5. Right-click on your printer and select See what’s printing.
6. Clear any print jobs in the queue.

Once the queue is cleared, restart QuickBooks and attempt to print again.

Step 6: Reinstall QuickBooks

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, the QuickBooks installation itself might be corrupted. Reinstalling QuickBooks can fix underlying problems with the software.

1. Open Control Panel and go to Programs and Features.
2. Find QuickBooks in the list, right-click, and select Uninstall.
3. Follow the prompts to uninstall QuickBooks completely.
4. Reboot your computer, then reinstall QuickBooks from the official website or your installation CD.

After reinstalling, open QuickBooks and check if the printing error has been resolved.

Step 7: Contact QuickBooks Support

If you’ve followed all of these steps and still cannot fix QuickBooks Error 539, it may be time to contact QuickBooks Support. The support team can remotely diagnose the issue and guide you through more advanced troubleshooting steps.

You can reach QuickBooks support via phone or live chat. Be prepared to provide details about your system configuration and any steps you’ve already taken to resolve the issue.

Conclusion

QuickBooks Tax and Printing Error 539 is a common issue that can prevent users from printing tax forms, invoices, or pay stubs. Fortunately, the issue can often be resolved with some simple troubleshooting steps, including checking your printer settings, updating drivers, reinstalling QuickBooks, and clearing the print queue.

If the error persists, you may need to seek further assistance from QuickBooks support. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve the issue and get your printing functions back to normal in QuickBooks.

Don’t let printing issues slow down your business—take action today and get back to managing your finances smoothly.