Ready to part ways with your QuickBooks account? Whether you're a small business owner, a freelancer, or just looking for a change, canceling your subscription is a process that requires a few important steps to ensure you don't lose crucial data and avoid unexpected charges. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to cancel your Intuit QuickBooks account, covering different versions of the software and what happens to your data afterward.
Let's begin by taking a deep breath and getting organized. Before you even think about hitting that cancel button, it's absolutely vital to have a clear plan. Have you backed up your data? Do you know your billing date? These are the questions that will save you from headaches later.
Step 1: The Essential Preparatory Actions
Before you initiate the cancellation, you must secure your financial data. Trust me on this one. You don't want to be scrambling for records when tax season rolls around.
Sub-heading: Back Up Your Data - A Non-Negotiable Step
This is the most critical part of the entire process. Once your account is canceled, your access to the data will be limited. QuickBooks typically offers a "read-only" period, but it's not a guarantee forever. So, what should you do?
For QuickBooks Online: You can export your data to Excel, a PDF, or a CSV file. This includes reports, lists, and other valuable information. To do this, go to the Gear icon (Settings) > Tools > Export Data. You can also download a copy of your company file. This is a crucial step to maintain your records.
For QuickBooks Desktop: Create a local backup of your company file. Go to File > Backup Company > Create Local Backup. Save it to a secure location, like an external hard drive or cloud storage. This will give you a copy of all your accounting data.
Sub-heading: Settle All Outstanding Business
Before you close the book on your QuickBooks account, make sure there are no loose ends.
Check for Pending Transactions: Review all pending invoices, payments, and other transactions. Finalize them to ensure your books are clean and balanced.
Resolve Pending Payroll or Payments: If you're using QuickBooks Payroll or Payments, make sure all final payroll runs are complete and all outstanding payments are settled.
Review Your Billing Cycle: Know your next billing date. Your subscription will typically remain active until the end of your current billing period. Intuit generally does not offer refunds for partial subscription periods.
Step 2: The Cancellation Process - Where Did You Sign Up?
The steps to cancel your subscription vary depending on where you purchased it. The process is different for QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and the mobile app versions.
Sub-heading: Canceling QuickBooks Online Subscription (Purchased Directly from Intuit)
This is the most common cancellation method. Follow these steps if you signed up on the QuickBooks website.
Sign in as an Admin: Log in to your QuickBooks Online account with the primary or company admin credentials. This is important as only the admin can cancel the subscription.
Navigate to Settings: Click on the Gear icon (
) in the upper-right corner of your screen.
Go to Billing & Subscription: From the drop-down menu, select Account and Settings and then click on the Billing & Subscription tab.
Initiate Cancellation: In the QuickBooks section, locate your subscription and select Cancel subscription or Cancel online. If you are on a free trial, you will see the option to Cancel trial.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts: QuickBooks will guide you through a short survey and a series of confirmation screens. They might ask for the reason for your cancellation. You can choose to provide feedback or skip the survey.
Confirm the Cancellation: Review the details and confirm your decision to cancel. You will receive an email confirmation.
Sub-heading: Canceling QuickBooks Desktop Subscription
Canceling a QuickBooks Desktop subscription involves a different process, often through your Intuit account management portal.
Log into Your CAMPs Account: Go to your Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPs) and log in using your Intuit credentials.
Select Your Product: In the Products & Services section, find your QuickBooks Desktop subscription.
View Details: Click on Details next to the subscription you want to cancel.
Cancel Service: Look for the Cancel Service option under the subscription's active status.
Follow the Prompts: A series of prompts will appear. You may be asked to provide feedback.
Finalize Cancellation: Click Continue to cancel and then Cancel Now to confirm.
Sub-heading: Canceling QuickBooks Self-Employed and Mobile App Subscriptions
The process for QuickBooks Self-Employed is similar to QuickBooks Online. However, if you purchased your subscription through a mobile app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store), you need to cancel it through their respective platforms.
For QuickBooks Self-Employed: Sign in to your account in a web browser, go to the Gear icon (
) > Billing Info > Cancel subscription.
For Apple App Store:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap your Apple ID at the top.
Select Subscriptions.
Find your QuickBooks subscription and tap Cancel Subscription.
For Google Play Store:
Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap the Menu icon (three horizontal lines).
Select Subscriptions.
Find your QuickBooks subscription and tap Cancel.
Step 3: What Happens After You Cancel?
You've done it! The subscription is canceled. But what's the deal with your data?
Sub-heading: Read-Only Access - The One-Year Window
After you cancel, your QuickBooks Online data is typically available in a read-only mode for one year from the cancellation date. This means you can view reports and download data, but you cannot enter new transactions or make any changes. This is a safety net for your records.
For QuickBooks Online: You can still log in and view your data during this period.
For QuickBooks Desktop: Your software will remain accessible, but services like payroll or live bank feeds will cease to function.
Sub-heading: The Finality of Data Deletion
After the one-year read-only period for QuickBooks Online, your data will be permanently deleted. There is no going back once this happens. This is why backing up your data in Step 1 is so important.
Step 4: Contacting Customer Support for Assistance
If you encounter any issues during the cancellation process or have specific questions about your account, don't hesitate to reach out to QuickBooks customer support. They can assist with deactivation, permanent deletion requests, and troubleshooting.
How to reach them: Sign in to your QuickBooks Online account, go to the Help menu (the '?' icon), select Contact Us, and describe your concern. You can choose to connect via chat or request a callback.
10 Related FAQs: Quick Answers
How to export my data from QuickBooks before canceling?
For QuickBooks Online, go to the Gear icon (
) > Tools > Export Data. For QuickBooks Desktop, create a local backup by going to File > Backup Company.
How to reactivate my QuickBooks account after canceling?
You can usually reactivate your account by logging in and following the prompts to resubscribe. Your data will be available if it's within the read-only period (typically one year).
How to cancel my QuickBooks trial?
If you're on a free trial, you can cancel it directly from the Billing & Subscription section in your account settings. If you don't provide billing info, the trial will simply expire on its own.
How to delete my entire Intuit account?
To permanently delete your entire Intuit account, you need to submit a data deletion request through your Intuit Account settings under the Data privacy section. This is a more permanent action than just canceling a subscription.
How to know if my cancellation was successful?
You will receive an email confirmation from Intuit/QuickBooks after your cancellation request has been successfully processed.
How to cancel a subscription purchased from the Google Play Store?
Open the Google Play Store app, go to the menu, select Subscriptions, find your QuickBooks subscription, and tap Cancel.
How to cancel a subscription purchased from the Apple App Store?
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, select Subscriptions, find the QuickBooks subscription, and tap Cancel.
How to get a refund after canceling my QuickBooks subscription?
QuickBooks generally has a policy of no refunds for partial subscription periods. If you cancel an annual plan, you will not be refunded for the unused months. You may be eligible for a refund if you cancel within the first 30 or 60 days, depending on the specific policy at the time of purchase.
How to cancel my QuickBooks Desktop payroll subscription?
You need to log in to your Intuit Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPs), find the payroll service in the Products & Services section, and follow the cancellation steps from there.
How to view my QuickBooks data after canceling?
For QuickBooks Online, you can log in as usual and access your data in a read-only mode for up to one year. You will not be able to edit or add new information.