This error message is saying that a reference list item that ContractorTools wrote to QuickBooks has been deleted or set inactive in QuickBooks. The reference item could be an account, customer, product and service item, vendor or employee.
The "Invalid Reference Id" error can have a number of different descriptions or explanations. For example, the rest of the error message may say:
"Before you can modify this transaction, you must restore Labor (deleted)."
This is telling you that the Products and Services item named "Labor" has been deleted in QuickBooks.
Another example of this message might be:
"Before you can modify this transaction, you must restore Net 30 (deleted)."
This is telling you that the Terms item named "Net 30" has been deleted in QuickBooks.
Another example:
"Something you're trying to use has been made inactive. Check the fields with accounts, customers, items, vendors or employees."
To fix these errors, you need to "un-delete" the deleted item. Here's how:
In the case of a Products and Services item:
Sign in to QuickBooks, click on the gear icon in the upper right of the main screen. Select "Products and Services" in the "Lists" menu.
Click on the Filter (funnel) icon at the top of the list, and select "Inactive" in the Status field. This will display the inactive (“deleted” items).
Locate the item to be un-deleted. For example: "Labor (deleted)".
Click "Make active" in the right ("Action") column.
In the case of a Terms item:
Sign in to QuickBooks, click on the gear icon in the upper right of the main screen. Select "All Lists" in the "Lists" menu, then select "Terms"
Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of the list, then check " Include inactive". This will include the inactive (“deleted” items) in the list.
Locate the item to be un-deleted. For example: "Net 30 (deleted)".
Click "Make active" in the right ("Action") column.
Once you have un-deleted the appropriate reference item(s), then you need to clear the QuickBooks sync errors in ContractorTools before attempting to sync again. Here's how to do that:
Go into the QuickBooks Sync screen in ContractorTools,
Tap on Sync Errors.
For each error, tap on it, then tap Clear.
Now go back to the QuickBooks Sync screen and tap "Sync Now".