The year’s almost over—how clean are your books? For many businesses, the end of the financial year is a race to tie up loose ends, especially when it comes to accounts receivable cleanup.
Cleaning up AR (accounts receivable) means reviewing what’s owed to you, following up on payments, correcting errors, and ensuring your books are accurate. It’s not just about collections—it’s about preparing for a smoother tax season, better cash flow, and clearer financial reporting.
At Industry Recovery Solutions, we specialize in account receivable collection and year-end cleanup support for businesses of all sizes.
What Is Accounts Receivable Cleanup?
AR cleanup is the process of reviewing, correcting, and organizing your open customer invoices. It’s about more than just collecting—it’s about regaining clarity, control, and confidence in your financials.
Whether you’re a small business owner, accountant, or part of a finance team, this task is critical to tidy your AR and close the year with clean books.
Step-by-Step Year-End AR Cleanup Checklist
✅ 1. Pull an Updated Aging Report
Start by generating your latest aging report to identify which accounts are current, past due, or severely overdue.
✅ 2. Reconcile Customer Balances
Match payments to invoices. Investigate discrepancies like overpayments, short pays, or unmatched transactions.
✅ 3. Follow Up on Overdue Accounts
Send polite, professional reminders. If needed, make a quick call to remind customers to pay before year-end.
✅ 4. Review Payment Terms and Credit Limits
Ensure terms are being followed. If certain clients consistently pay late, adjust credit limits or require prepayment.
✅ 5. Identify and Write Off Bad Debt
If accounts are uncollectible, it may be time to write off the bad debt. Consult your accountant to do this properly.
✅ 6. Clean Up Old Credits and Unapplied Payments
Fix lingering credits or customer payments with no invoice applied. It improves reporting and keeps records accurate.
✅ 7. Update Contact Info and Notes
Outdated contact details can delay collections. Make sure emails, phone numbers, and notes are up to date.
✅ 8. Archive Closed Accounts and Inactive Customers
Remove old or inactive customers from your active AR list to reduce clutter and focus on active balances.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Ignoring small balances that add up over time
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Letting unresolved issues carry over into the new year
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Failing to write off truly uncollectible debts
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Not calling in an account receivable collection agency when internal follow-up isn’t working
Tools to Help You Clean Up Faster
Use reliable accounting platforms like QuickBooks, Xero, or FreshBooks to simplify reconciliation and reporting. Consider AR automation tools to flag issues, send reminders, and apply payments faster.
Or save even more time by outsourcing your AR cleanup to Industry Recovery Solutions—your trusted partner in AR support and debt recovery.
When to Bring in an AR Collection Partner
If you’re seeing these red flags, it’s time to bring in help:
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Balances are 60+ days overdue
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Your team is overwhelmed with end-of-year tasks
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You’re struggling to reach certain customers
Industry Recovery Solutions offers professional, respectful, and results-driven account receivable collection services that help close your books faster and cleaner.
Benefits of a Clean AR Ledger
Cleaning up your AR isn’t just good practice—it delivers real business benefits:
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Accurate year-end financials
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Better cash flow forecasting
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Easier tax preparation
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Stronger customer relationships
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Peace of mind entering the new year
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How often should I clean up my AR?
At least quarterly—but a thorough year-end cleanup is a must.
Q2: What if a customer won’t pay by year-end?
Follow up. If unresponsive, consider a third-party collection partner to recover the debt.
Q3: Should I send unpaid accounts to collections?
Yes—especially if they’re 60+ days past due and not responding.
Q4: How do I write off old balances?
Consult your accountant. Writing off bad debt helps maintain accurate books and may offer tax benefits.
Conclusion: Start the New Year with Clean Books
A little effort now can save major stress later. Year-end accounts receivable cleanup sets your business up for stronger cash flow, better reports, and fewer issues in the new year.
📞 Let us help you finish strong.
Contact Industry Recovery Solutions for expert help with your year-end AR cleanup.