To cancel your QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Payroll subscription, sign in as the Primary Admin or Payroll Admin and deactivate the service through either the Payroll Center or your Intuit Account.
Cancellation steps vary depending on your payroll type, such as Assisted, Enhanced, or Standard, and each follows a slightly different process.
Once the subscription is canceled, QuickBooks may restrict access to payroll features, and your tools will switch to read-only mode for up to one year.
If you don’t renew or resubscribe during that time, full payroll functionality will remain disabled.
Additionally, if you cancel before year-end, you may need to manually file forms such as W-2s and 1099s for compliance.
You may qualify for a full refund if you cancel within 60 days of purchase under Intuit’s Money-Back Guarantee, but to avoid being charged for another billing cycle, it’s best to cancel at least five days before your next scheduled payment date.
Checklist: Cancel QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Payroll Subscription
Before canceling your payroll subscription, make sure to:
1. Complete Final Payroll Tasks
- Complete and process your final payroll run.
- Pay any outstanding tax deposits.
- Process and file any pending annual or quarterly forms.
2. Handle Tax Filings and Compliance
- Submit all pending payroll tax forms (941, 940, state filings).
- Complete and finalize all tax obligations.
3. Save and Secure Your Payroll Data
- Download or print final payroll reports (employee pay history, tax filings, and liabilities).
- Print any necessary payroll reports for future reference.
- Create a company file backup for record-keeping, audit trails, and IRS compliance.
4. Review your Subscription Details
Sign in to Your Intuit Account
- Go to the Official Intuit Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPs) login page.
- Enter your user ID and password.
- Click Login.
Check the QuickBooks Payroll Service
- Log in to your QuickBooks Desktop company file as the Primary Admin or Payroll Admin.
- Click Employees, then select Payroll Center.
- In the Payroll section, check the payroll service you are currently using.
- Search for Subscription Statuses to find the information you need.
5. Turn Off Auto-Renewal for Payroll
Disable auto-renewal for your payroll service to avoid automatic charges:
- Navigate to Settings. and then click Payroll settings.
- Press Edit in the Auto Payroll box.
- Select employees for Auto Payroll.
- Choose one or more of the enrolled employees.
- Click Save changes.
- Review the confirmation window and then hit the Done tab.
Steps to Cancel Payroll Service in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise
To cancel your QuickBooks Payroll subscription, whether it’s Assisted, Enhanced, or Standard, you need to complete the following steps:
For QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Assisted
- Log in to your Intuit Account.
- Under Products & Services, select Details next to the status of the payroll subscription that you want to cancel.
- If you have an Assisted Diamond subscription with more than 1 EIN, contact the payroll support team to cancel your service.
- Choose Cancel Service and follow the on-screen steps to cancel your payroll service.
After you submit your cancellation request, you will get an email within three business days to let you know it’s being reviewed. You’ll get another email once it’s been officially canceled.
Remove payroll from your company file when your cancellation is done
Follow these steps to remove the QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Assisted service from your QuickBooks Desktop company file once your cancellation is completed.
- Move to your QuickBooks Desktop company file.
- Select Employees and then Send Payroll Data.
- Click Send.
For QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Enhanced, Standard, or Basic
There are two ways to cancel your payroll subscription:
Using your Company File
Below are the steps to directly cancel your payroll service through your QuickBooks Desktop company file:
- From the Employees dropdown menu, choose My Payroll Service, then select Account/Billing Info.
- Sign in using your Intuit Account login, and then the Account Portal page will open.
- Click on Cancel Service.
- Follow the on-screen steps to cancel your payroll service.
Using your Intuit Account
- Sign in to your Intuit Account.
- Under Products & Services, hit the Details icon next to the status of the payroll subscription that you want to cancel.
- Choose Cancel Service and follow the on-screen steps to cancel your payroll service.
You’ll receive two email confirmations regarding your cancellation request. The first is within three business days to confirm receipt of your request, and the second is when your cancellation is over.
Note: You can cancel your payroll service online in case you don’t have access to your QuickBooks Desktop Payroll company file.
What Happens When you Cancel QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Payroll Subscription?
Canceling your QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Payroll subscription immediately disables all payroll-related features. Below is a breakdown of what you lose access to and what new actions may be required after deactivation:
You will no longer be able to:
- Run payroll or generate new paychecks.
- Pay employees through direct deposit.
- File or pay payroll taxes using QuickBooks.
- Use e-file or e-pay services linked to your subscription.
Additional consequences and considerations:
- QuickBooks subscriptions are typically non-refundable unless canceled within the 60-day Money-Back Guarantee window.
- If you cancel before running your final payroll, you’ll need to calculate and pay employees manually outside QuickBooks.
- Employees may lose access to their pay stubs and W-2s if they used QuickBooks Workforce for document access.
- If your payroll was integrated with third-party providers (such as 401(k), health insurance, or time-tracking platforms), those connections may be disrupted.
- QuickBooks may not generate year-end reports (e.g., W-2s) if the subscription is canceled before December.
Reasons for Cancellation QB Desktop Payroll Subscription
There are a variety of reasons businesses might choose to deactivate their QuickBooks Desktop Payroll subscription.
Here are some common and valid ones:
- If you’re switching to a different payroll provider for more automation, user-friendly interfaces, mobile access, and integration with HR and benefits services.
- Due to cost-saving measures, such as your business is downsizing and you’re outsourcing payroll to a bookkeeper or accountant.
- If you’re moving from Desktop to QuickBooks Online Payroll service for real-time syncing, better cloud access, or simpler updates and maintenance.
- If you don’t need to avail payroll services since you’ve closed your business or no longer have employees.
- Businesses or solopreneurs may find it more economical to manually process payroll or use a pay-per-use service rather than maintain a monthly payroll subscription.
Contact QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Support
Users who are unable to cancel their QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Payroll subscription manually can contact QuickBooks Support. The support team will verify the identity, confirm account ownership, and document the reason for cancellation.
QuickBooks Desktop Cancellation Policies
Before canceling your QB Desktop payroll subscription, you need to know about the cancellation policy of your product.
QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, Gold, Silver, or Platinum Subscriptions
You may cancel your QuickBooks Enterprise (Gold, Silver, or Platinum) subscription with monthly billing. However, it’s important to understand that support plans have specific terms and conditions.
Note: You’re eligible for a prorated refund once you upgrade your subscription. This means you may cancel your current subscription and get a prorated refund for the remaining months when you upgrade.
| Plan Type | Cancellation Window | Refund/Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Plan | Cancel within the 60-day Money-Back Guarantee period | Receive a Full refund to the original credit or debit card |
| After the 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee period and before the end of month 12 | Termination Fees ( this equals the amount of monthly payments remaining on your subscription)No Prorated Refund | |
| Annual Plan | Cancel within the 60-day Money-Back Guarantee period | Receive a Full refund to the original credit or debit card |
| After the 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee period | No Prorated Refund Access to your service will continue until your current subscription period ends. Service will be phased out by the next auto-renewal date. |
After canceling your payroll service, you’ll no longer be able to do the following:
- Get assisted support for issues and questions not covered by the Intuit QuickBooks Desktop software support policies without additional fee/s.
- Get Data Recovery services without additional fee/s.
- Use other services included in your plan, such as Intuit Data Protect.
- Use the QuickBooks Desktop software. However, you’ll retain access to your company data file stored on your device.
Tip: You can convert your data file to a readable QuickBooks Desktop format when you reactivate your subscription or purchase a license for the software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I access my QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Data after cancellation?
Yes, you’ll have access to your QuickBooks desktop payroll data for one year right after the date your subscription was canceled, but you’re restricted from recreating any tax forms. So, make sure to save a copy of all tax forms you created or e-filed.
Will I get a refund if I cancel QB Desktop Subscription during a mid-billing cycle?
No, you won’t get any refund if you cancel before the next auto-renewal date. You can only receive a full refund for your QuickBooks Desktop subscription if you cancel within 60 days of signing up.
What happens if I don’t renew my QuickBooks Payroll subscription?
You will no longer access your payroll tax returns through QuickBooks Desktop. You only have view-only access to your data for one year after your subscription expires. During that time, you won’t be able to edit your data with your inactive license. Your company file will remain on your device, but you must renew your subscription to open, view, and export the data.