Hello there! Thinking about parting ways with your QuickBooks account? It's a big decision, and whether you're switching accounting software, closing your business, or simply no longer need the service, it's crucial to do it right to avoid any future hassles.
This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, ensuring you can confidently and securely delete your Intuit QuickBooks account. But before you dive in, let me ask you a quick question: Have you backed up all your financial data yet? If the answer is no, please, please make that your first priority. Your historical data is invaluable, and once the account is gone, it's gone for good.
Let's get started.
Step 1: The All-Important Data Backup
Before you even think about hitting that cancel button, you need to save your data. This is not a step to skip. QuickBooks holds all your financial history, reports, and transactions, and you'll want to have a copy for your records, tax purposes, and future reference. Imagine needing a report from two years ago and realizing you can't access it!
For QuickBooks Online:
Log in to your QuickBooks Online account as the primary or company admin.
Click the Gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner.
Under "Tools," select Export Data.
Here, you can choose which reports and lists you want to export. Be sure to select everything you need. You can export your data to Excel or a CSV file.
Click on Export to Excel to download the selected data.
Additionally, for a more comprehensive backup, you can download a complete data backup file if that option is available. This is a more robust copy than just exporting reports.
Save the exported files in a secure location on your computer or an external hard drive.
For QuickBooks Desktop:
Open your QuickBooks Desktop software.
Go to File and select Backup Company.
Choose Create Local Backup.
Follow the on-screen instructions to create a backup file of your company data.
Save this file to a secure location. This file is your entire company data, so treat it with care.
Remember: Once you cancel, you will only have read-only access to your QuickBooks Online data for about a year. After that, Intuit will likely delete it permanently. For QuickBooks Desktop, you'll lose access to live services and updates, but your data file will remain on your computer.
Step 2: Understand the Difference Between Cancelling a Subscription and Deleting an Intuit Account
This is a critical distinction. Cancelling your QuickBooks subscription stops the billing and access to the QuickBooks software, but it doesn't automatically delete your entire Intuit account. Your Intuit account is a central hub for all Intuit products, including TurboTax and Mint.
Cancelling a QuickBooks Subscription: This is the process of stopping payments for your QuickBooks Online or Desktop plan. You will no longer be able to use the software for creating new transactions or editing existing ones.
Deleting your Intuit Account: This is a more permanent step that involves deleting your entire profile and associated data from all Intuit products. This is irreversible and should be done with extreme caution.
Most users only need to cancel their QuickBooks subscription. Deleting the entire Intuit account is a final step if you are absolutely sure you never want to use any of their services again.
Step 3: The Step-by-Step Cancellation Process
The steps to cancel your subscription depend on the type of QuickBooks you have (Online vs. Desktop) and where you purchased it from.
Sub-heading: For QuickBooks Online (Purchased Directly from Intuit)
Sign in as the primary admin to your QuickBooks Online company in a web browser (not the mobile app).
Click the Gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner.
Under "Profile," select Subscriptions and billing.
In the "QuickBooks" section, you will see your active subscription. Look for the button that says "Cancel subscription" or "Cancel online". If you are on a free trial, you'll see "Cancel your trial."
Follow the on-screen prompts. QuickBooks will likely ask you for a reason for canceling. You can provide feedback if you wish.
Continue through the steps and confirm your cancellation.
You will receive a confirmation email. Keep this email for your records!
Sub-heading: For QuickBooks Online (Purchased via App Store)
If you bought your subscription through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you must cancel it through your respective app store's subscription settings.
For Apple App Store:
Go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap your name at the top.
Tap Subscriptions.
Find your QuickBooks Online subscription and tap it.
Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm.
For Google Play Store:
Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.
Select Subscriptions.
Find your QuickBooks Online subscription and tap it.
Tap Cancel subscription and follow the prompts.
Sub-heading: For QuickBooks Desktop
Cancelling a QuickBooks Desktop subscription involves a different process.
Log in to your Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPs) on the Intuit website. You will need your Intuit account details.
Once logged in, navigate to the Products & Services section.
Select the QuickBooks Desktop account you wish to cancel.
Click on "Details" next to your subscription.
Under the active status of your subscription, you should see an option to "Cancel Service" or "Cancel auto renewal."
Follow the on-screen instructions, providing feedback if prompted.
Confirm the cancellation to finalize the process.
Important Note: Cancellation of a QuickBooks Desktop subscription often means you'll lose access to live services, support, and updates, but the software on your computer will remain. However, if it's a subscription-based product, it will eventually stop working.
Step 4: The Final Step - Deleting Your Entire Intuit Account
Warning: This is an irreversible action. Only proceed with this step if you are absolutely certain you want to remove all your data from all Intuit products.
First, ensure you have cancelled all active subscriptions with Intuit (QuickBooks, TurboTax, etc.) as per the steps above. You cannot delete an account with an active subscription.
Go to the Intuit Data Privacy portal:
accounts.intuit.com/privacy.Sign in to your Intuit account.
In the "Data privacy" section, select "Delete."
You will be asked to confirm your identity and the reason for the deletion.
Follow the on-screen instructions. You might be asked to select the specific data you want to delete.
Intuit will send you a confirmation email, and the process can take up to 45 days to complete.
You have now successfully started the process of deleting your Intuit QuickBooks account. It's a journey, but by following these steps, you've ensured your data is safe and the cancellation is handled correctly.
10 Related FAQs: How to...
How to check if my QuickBooks subscription is already canceled?
Sign in to your QuickBooks Online account, go to Settings > Subscriptions and billing. Your subscription status will be displayed there. For Desktop, check your Intuit Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPs).
How to export all reports from QuickBooks Online at once?
While you can export reports in batches from the Export Data tool under the Gear icon, there isn't a single "export all" button. You'll need to select the reports and lists you need and export them individually or in groups.
How to contact QuickBooks customer support in India?
You can find contact details and chat support options by logging into your QuickBooks account and clicking on the Help (?) button. You can also visit the official Intuit QuickBooks India website for support information.
How to reactivate a canceled QuickBooks Online account?
You can reactivate your account by signing in and going to Settings > Subscriptions and billing and selecting the "Resubscribe" option. You will have access to your old data if it is within the one-year retention period.
How to know what happens to my data after I cancel my QuickBooks subscription?
For QuickBooks Online, your data is available in a read-only format for up to one year. After this period, it is permanently deleted. For QuickBooks Desktop, your data file remains on your computer.
How to remove a user from my QuickBooks Online account before canceling?
As the admin, go to the Gear icon (Settings) > Manage users. Find the user you want to remove and select Delete User.
How to avoid getting charged after canceling my QuickBooks subscription?
Make sure you cancel your subscription at least a few days before your next billing date. The cancellation will take effect at the end of your current billing cycle.
How to get a refund after cancelling my QuickBooks subscription?
Refunds are generally only available if you cancel within the first 30 days of your subscription. You can often request a refund through a refund request form on the Intuit website or by contacting customer support.
How to unlink my bank account from QuickBooks Online before canceling?
Go to Banking > Bank transactions. Select the tile for the bank account, click on the pencil icon, and choose "Disconnect this account on save." This will stop new transactions from downloading.
How to find my Intuit Account Management Portal (CAMPs)?
You can access the portal by visiting the official Intuit or QuickBooks website and looking for a login link for "My Account" or "Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPs)."