To renew QuickBooks Enterprise Payroll Subscription, check your payroll service subscription status, renew payroll service using the company file and the Intuit Account Manager, update your billing info/ payment method, and turn Auto-renewal on if needed.
Renew QuickBooks Enterprise Payroll Subscription means your subscription is still active, but it’s about to expire or require renewal to be continued for the next billing cycle. Renew Payroll Subscription error occurs when the subscription has already expired or become inactive, there’s a billing issue, such as Payment authorization failure, and auto-renewal is disabled in your subscription settings.
Inactive or expired Payroll Subscription leads to several consequences, such as blocked payroll processing features, including employee payments, filing taxes, and direct deposit, limited access to payroll tax forms (941, W-2, W-3), and inability to print or file payroll tax forms electronically. When the subscription remains inactive for an extended period, historical payroll data becomes read-only, preventing any edits or updates, and employee data access is partially restricted.
Note:
- QuickBooks Enterprise Payroll subscription allows you to set auto-renewal monthly or annually, depending on your plan.
- Intuit typically holds your data in read-only access for 12 months after cancelling the payroll subscription in case you want to come back.
Scenarios Requiring Renewal of QuickBooks Enterprise Payroll Subscription
Certain billing or account conditions require you to renew your QuickBooks Enterprise Payroll subscription. These include disabled auto-renewal, incorrect billing details, declined payments, an expired subscription, or a status showing as inactive.
You must also renew if payroll services were cancelled or interrupted due to technical errors:
- Auto-renew has been disabled mistakenly.
- There’s an issue with your billing info.
- Payroll Status shows as Inactive.
- Your payment is pending or declined due to technical issues.
- QuickBooks Payroll Services have been canceled.
- Payroll Subscription has expired or lapsed.
How to Renew QuickBooks Enterprise Payroll Subscription?
Renewal requires logging in as a Primary or Standard user with access to all company files and checking your payroll status to determine if it is Active or Inactive. A status marked as Active allows direct reactivation, while an Inactive status requires subscription renewal first.
Check your Payroll Service Subscription Status!
- Close all your company files and restart your computer.
- Open QuickBooks, navigate to Employees, select My Payroll Service, and then click on Manage Service Key.
- Verify that your Service Name and Status are accurate and displayed as Active.
- Select Edit and verify the service key number when the status shows Canceled.
- Enter the correct service key if the number is incorrect.
- Click the Next tab and unchecked the Open Payroll Setup box, then choose Finish.
Renew your Payroll Subscription
Renew your Payroll Subscription Using these Methods:
Using your Company File
Use your QuickBooks Desktop company file to reactivate your payroll service.
- Under your QuickBooks Desktop company file, navigate to Employees and then choose My Payroll Service.
- Select Account/Billing Info.
- Log in to access your QuickBooks Account Page via your Intuit Account.
- Click on Resubscribe under Status.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to re-activate your payroll service.

Through your Intuit Account
Renew your payroll service from the web.
- Navigate to your Intuit Account Manager.
- Sign in to your Intuit account using your login credentials.
- Choose the Billing & Subscriptions or Products & Services tab.
- Under Status, select Resubscribe.
- Follow the on-screen steps to reactivate your payroll service.
Note: Reactivation of your subscription requires up to 24 hours to complete. Your subscription shows Active upon completion of the renewal. After completing the renewal process, proceed to reactivate QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Payroll Subscription.
Steps to Update Your Billing Info & Payment Method!
Update and renew billing information and payment methods using these methods:
Update your Billing Information
- Navigate to the Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPS) page: camps.intuit.com.
- Choose QuickBooks Desktop Payroll.
- Select the Billing Information section.
- Update your credit card information.
- Press Save and Close.
Note: Use a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit card.
You can also do the same process inside your company file.
Here’s how:
- Move to the Employees menu.
- Choose My Payroll Service, then select Account/Billing Information.
- You’ll be prompted to sign in to your Intuit Account.
- Under the Service Information section, click Reactive besides the service status.
- Hit Proceed to Checkout.
- Select a Payment Method and then update your payment information
- Once done, click Submit, then select Place Order.
- Press Next, then Return to QuickBooks.
- Go back to the Account/Billing Information and check the Service Status here.
Update your Payment Method
Log in to your account as a primary admin, then head to your Billing and Subscription page for your payment method renewal.
Here’s how:
- Navigate to the Settings menu, then choose Account and Settings.
- Select Billing & Subscription.
- Click the Edit icon next to your payment method. Always remember that QuickBooks only accepts the following debit and credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, and Amex.
- Update your credit card info and make sure the address in QuickBooks is the same as the one on your credit card statement.
- Press Confirm Card or Save.
Additional Information About QuickBooks Desktop Payroll and Payments
QuickBooks ended support for legacy Standard Payroll and legacy Basic Payroll starting from December 1, 2023. Users on these plans transition to Enhanced Payroll. This includes additional functionality for electronic filing and payment of federal and state payroll taxes. These changes take effect on their subscription renewal date.
QuickBooks will notify affected users of this update via the product and email. Users must provide consent in the Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPS). QuickBooks will terminate the payroll service if consent is not received from the users before their subscription renewal date. Users must contact Intuit to subscribe to a new payroll and link their past payroll history.