Not sure if you resolved this, but I will add some commentary.
- The balance in TT is basically one in which you need to populate based on your own separate books and records.
- You indicate that you are modified cash, but based on your facts, that does not appear to be what modified cash is. Modified cash balance is where nearly all elements of the income statement are recorded using the cash basis, and that accounts receivables and inventory are not recorded on the balance sheet. Your facts indicate that you have recorded "sales reported in 2018 but not deposited until 2019"; you are not being consistent here as you are recording a sale but there is technically no cash received or deposited yet.
- The same is with your handling of the payroll tax matters. These items are being reported on an accrual basis in the liabilities and this is also contrary to what should be happening.
- You need to create a balance sheet outside of TT that balances and then input that into TT.
- Keep in mind that another factor is that your cash basis books may not agree to what is being reflected on the tax return as a result of book to tax differences; depreciation, meals and entertainment, etc.
- I would highly recommend that you look into using Quickbooks or something along those same lines which will maintain everything in a balanced state and you can print the balance sheet and just input those figures into TT at the end of the year.
- See the attached discussion on modified cash basis accounting; https://www.accountingtools.com/articles/what-is-the-modified-cash-basis-of-accounting.html
*A reminder that posts in a forum such as this do not constitute tax advice.
Also keep in mind the date of replies, as tax law changes.
