Fix QBwin.log LVL Severe Error

QBwin.log: LVL_SEVERE_ERROR is caused by corruption in the sensitive field of credit card numbers, bank accounts, or social security numbers. However, it also occurs due to missing item lists, lost or damaged Windows registry, corrupted Charts of Accounts, and more.

Based on the error message displayed along with the error, users can detect the root cause of this LVL_SEVERE_ERROR in QuickBooks. In this article, you will gain insights, particularly on error messages:

• QBwin.log: LVL_SEVERE_ERRORGetDecryptedCreditCardNumber The decryption has failed
• QBWin.log: LVL_ERROR – Error: Verify Item History: Build txn Target Bad Pending State
• QBWin.log: LVL_Error–Error: Verify Item: Invalid tax agency. 

Along with this, you will get to the prerequisites, causes, and a step-by-step solution guide to fix this error.

How to Fix the QBwin.log: LVL_SEVERE_ERROR in QuickBooks Desktop

Damaged encryption of bank accounts, credit card numbers, and social insurance numbers’ sensitive fields leads to QBwin.log: LVL_SEVERE_ERROR in QuickBooks Desktop. To remove such QBwin.log errors, follow the step-by-step solutions provided below.

Fix Error 1: QBwin.log: LVL_SEVERE_ERRORGetDecryptedCreditCardNumber The decryption has failed

Users can easily resolve ‘LVL_SEVERE_ERRORGetDecryptedCreditCardNumber The decryption has failed’ error by following the methods given below. 

Method 1: Verify the QuickBooks Admin User for damage

• Sign in as Admin: Log in to your QuickBooks company file using your Admin account.
• Change the Admin Password: Update the Admin password to trigger QuickBooks to re-encrypt your data. This might take a few minutes.
• Log Out and Close QuickBooks: After the password change, log out of your company file, then go to File > Close Company or Log Off, and close QuickBooks completely.
• Reopen QuickBooks: Start QuickBooks again and log in as Admin to complete the re-encryption process.
• Check the Results: Run the Verify Data utility to check if the encryption process succeeded. If errors like LVL_SEVERE_ERROR – GetMasterKey Failed appear, you may need to send your file to QuickBooks Data Services for repair.

If you see the following error messages, you must contact the support team:

• LVL_SEVERE_ERROR–GetDataAccessKey Failed: The decryption has failed.
• LVL_SEVERE_ERROR–GetMasterKey Failed: The decryption has failed.

Note: The file should be sent to the Data Services only if the admin user has the Masterkey error. However, non-admin users facing this error can simply create a profile again and delete the previous ones.

Method 2: Repair Damaged Encrypted Fields (e.g., Credit Card Numbers)

If specific customer information, such as credit card numbers, is causing the error, follow these steps to fix it.

 Step 1: Run the Verify Data Utility

 Use this built-in tool to scan for any data issues in your QuickBooks file.

 Step 2: Review the QBWin.log File

• Locate the QBWin.log file and open it with Notepad.
• Look for any errors related to customer data, particularly around credit card numbers, and note the affected customer names and IDs.

 Step 3: Edit the Affected Customer’s Credit Card Information

• Go to Customer Center from the Customers menu.
• Use the search bar to find the affected customers (based on the IDs from the QBWin.log).
• If necessary, export your Customer list as an IIF file and open it in Excel or a text editor.
• Find the corresponding Customer ID from the log and edit the credit card information.

• Enter a dummy credit card number (e.g., a 16-digit placeholder) and save the changes.
• Then, go back and enter the correct credit card number for each customer.

Note: If multiple customers are affected, use advanced import to make bulk changes efficiently.

 Step 4: Verify the Fix

• After editing the credit card information, run the Verify Data utility again.
• If no errors appear, the issue is resolved.
• If the error persists, check the QBWin.log for any new errors and repeat the process for any other affected customers.

Note: A “Verify Error: QuickBooks found a problem with the Acct /Card /Note field for another asset” message may indicate a problem with your admin user or another type of corrupted data. 

Error 2: Fix QBWin.log: LVL_ERROR – Error: Verify Item History: Build txn Target Bad Pending State

You can resolve “QBWin.log: LVL_ERROR – Error: Verify Item History: Build txn target bad pending state. Item = nnnnn” in QuickBooks Desktop” to experience no issues in running QuickBooks after updating the company file’s data. Users facing this error can refer to the following article.

Method 1: Rebuild and Verify Your Company File

Rebuilding your company file is often the quickest and most effective way to fix data issues. The Verify Data tool detects common errors, and the Rebuild Data tool fixes them.

Step 1: Verify Your Company Data

• Close All Windows: Go to Window > Close All.
• Verify Data: You will have to click on File > Utilities > Verify Data.
  • If no issues are found, you’re all set.
  • If you see an error message, search for it on QuickBooks support to learn how to resolve it.
  • You will have to rebuild your company file in case any damage in the company file data gets detected.

 Step 2: Rebuild Your Company File

• Backup Your Data: Go to File > Utilities > Rebuild Data. QuickBooks will prompt you to back up your file—make sure to do so.
• Choose Backup Location: Save your backup to a new location and name it something distinct to avoid overwriting previous backups.
• Rebuild Data: Once the rebuild is complete, you’ll see a confirmation message. Click on the OK button.
• Verify Again: Go back to File > Utilities > Verify Data to check for any remaining errors.
  • If the issue persists, you may need to manually fix it, as described in Solution 2.
  • If it still doesn’t work, consider restoring a recent backup. Now, you will have to click on File and then click on the Open or Restore Company option.

Method 2: Manually Fix the Damaged Item

If rebuilding doesn’t completely resolve the error, you may need to address the specific item causing the issue.

Step 1: Identify the Problematic Item

• Open the Product Info Window: Press F2 in QuickBooks.
• Open the Tech Help Window: Press F3 to bring up the Tech Help window, then select the Open File tab.
• Open the QBWin.log: Select QBWIN.LOG and open the file.
• Search for the Error: Press CTRL + F to open the search field. Look for the error message and take note of the item number mentioned.

Step 2: Export and Locate the Damaged Item

• Export Item List: Go to File > Utilities > Export > Lists to IIF Files….
• Choose Item List: Now, click on the Item List and click on the OK button.
• Save the IIF File: You must save the IIF file to your preferred location, then open it in Excel.
• Search REFNUM: From the error message, look for the REFNUM that matches the item number from the QBWin.log and note the item’s name.

Step 3: Correct the Item’s Quantity On Hand (QOH)

• Inventory Report: Go to Reports > Inventory > Inventory Valuation Detail.
• Adjust Inventory: Locate the item in question, and find the date when its quantity became negative.
• Fix the negative quantity: Remove the “build assembly” or adjust the quantity to correct the inventory balance.

Step 4: Verify Again

• Go back to File > Utilities > Verify Data.
• If QuickBooks detects no more issues, your file is ready for backup.

Related Issue: Fix QBWin.log errors Duplicate Names in QuickBooks Desktop

Error 3: QBWin.log: LVL_Error–Error: Verify Item: Invalid tax agency

If you’ve encountered the “LVL_Error–Error: Verify Item: Invalid Tax Agency” message in your QBWin.log, don’t panic—this is a fixable issue. The error often happens when there are incorrect or missing data in your Item List, specifically in the Tax Agency field. Here’s how you can resolve it and get QuickBooks running smoothly again.

This error typically appears after running the Verify Data utility. It suggests that one or more of your items have an invalid entry in the Tax Agency field, especially for non-sales tax items. Sometimes, the issue is linked to incorrect information being listed in the Preferred Vendor field, like a customer name instead of a vendor. Here are the steps to resolve:

Step 1: Find the Damaged Item in the QBWin.log

• Open the Product Information Window: While QuickBooks is running, press F2 to open the Product Information window.
• Access the Tech Help Window: Press F3 to open the Tech Help window, then go to the Open File tab.
• Open QBWin.log: In the Open File tab, locate and open QBWin.log.
• Search for the Error: Once the QBWin.log is open, press CTRL + F to bring up the search box. Look for the “Invalid Tax Agency” error.
• Note the Damaged Item: Find the damaged item listed on the line that follows the error message. This is the item you need to fix.

 Step 2: Edit the Damaged Item(s)

• Open the Item List: Back in QuickBooks, go to the List menu and select Item List.
• Locate the Item: Find the damaged item you identified in the QBWin.log file. Double-click on the item to open its details.
• Check the Preferred Vendor Field:

•  If the Preferred Vendor field is correct, or if it doesn’t have a vendor listed, make a small edit to the item name or description (just add or remove a character), then click OK to save the changes.
•  If the Preferred Vendor field is incorrect (e.g., it contains a customer name instead of a vendor), delete the incorrect name or assign the correct vendor, then click OK to save.

4. Revert Optional Changes: If you made changes to the item name or description, you can go back and double-click the item again to undo the edits (optional), then click OK.

 Step 3: Repeat for All Affected Items

Go through the QBWin.log file and repeat the above steps for any other items listed with the “Invalid Tax Agency” error.  

 Step 4: Merge Items (If Needed)

If these steps don’t fully resolve the issue, you can try merging the damaged item with a new item. This helps eliminate corrupted data by creating a fresh record for the item.

Note: Avoid Exporting and Re-importing: Don’t attempt to export your Item List, edit it outside QuickBooks, and then re-import it. This can cause further issues.
                                          &
Tax Agency Field: Remember, the Tax Agency field should only be used for sales tax items. Non-sales tax items shouldn’t have anything listed here.

By following these steps, you should be able to fix the “Invalid Tax Agency” error and ensure your items are properly configured in QuickBooks. This will allow the Verify Data tool to run smoothly, and your company file will be free from this particular issue.

Causes of Error ‘QBwin.log LVL_SEVERE_ERROR in QuickBooks’

When using QuickBooks, encountering the QBwin.log: LVL_SEVERE_ERROR can be frustrating, as it signals a significant issue within the software. Below are the key causes that trigger this error, based on common QuickBooks system problems:

• Encryption Damage in Sensitive Fields: Errors often arise due to damage in the encryption of sensitive information like credit card numbers, social security numbers, or bank account details.
• Missing or Damaged Item Lists: If QuickBooks cannot locate the item lists or if the data is corrupted, the system may fail to process transactions accurately, causing this severe error.
• Corrupted Windows Registry Files: The Windows registry is essential for the smooth operation of QuickBooks. If registry files become corrupted or lost, it can lead to various issues, including errors in the QBwin.log.
• Incorrect Information in the Tax Agency Field: If users accidentally enter incorrect or incomplete details in the Tax Agency field, especially on non-sales items, it can cause LVL_SEVERE_ERROR in QuickBooks.
• Incorrect Preferred Vendor Information: If this field contains incorrect or outdated data, it may cause problems during transaction processing, resulting in a severe error.
• Harmed or Corrupted Charts of Accounts: QuickBooks may fail to interpret financial data correctly, triggering the LVL_SEVERE_ERROR if the Charts of Accounts become corrupted or damaged.
• Issues with Check Data Utility: Any malfunction or corruption in this utility can cause discrepancies in check processing, which may lead to the LVL_SEVERE_ERROR appearing in the QBwin.log.
• Unequal Records: Mismatched or unequal records due to data entry errors, mismatched transactions, or incorrect synchronization between accounts can cause this error.

Conclusion

QBwin.log: LVL_SEVERE_ERROR is caused by various sources such as corrupted sensitive data, damaged item lists, or misconfigured registry files. Users can resolve these errors and restore QuickBooks to full functionality by following the detailed troubleshooting steps provided in this guide. These steps range from verifying admin credentials and repairing encrypted fields to rebuilding company files. While some errors may require manual intervention or support from QuickBooks data services, proactive file maintenance and regular backups are essential to prevent future issues. With these solutions, you’ll be equipped to keep your QuickBooks system running smoothly.

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