So, you've decided to part ways with your Intuit QuickBooks account? Perhaps your business needs have changed, or you're simply looking for a new accounting solution. Whatever your reason, navigating the cancellation process can sometimes feel like a complex maze. But don't worry, you're in the right place. This detailed, step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know to cancel your Intuit QuickBooks account with confidence. Let's get started!
Step 1: Don't Rush! Prepare for the Big Move
Before you even think about hitting that cancel button, let's take a moment to ensure you're fully prepared. This is the most crucial step to avoid any future headaches. You wouldn't move out of a house without packing your belongings, would you? The same logic applies here.
Why is this so important? Because once your subscription is canceled, you will have limited access to your data. QuickBooks typically provides read-only access for a year after cancellation, but after that, your data may be permanently deleted. Imagine losing years of financial records, reports, and invoices! So, let's secure your data first.
Sub-heading: Back up your financial data
This is a non-negotiable action. Here's how to do it for different versions of QuickBooks:
For QuickBooks Online:
Export to Excel: This is a popular method. You can export a variety of reports, like your Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet, and Transaction Reports, to Excel.
Export to a PDF: You can also save reports as PDFs for easy viewing.
Use a third-party app: Consider using a third-party application to download a comprehensive backup of your data. This can be a more robust solution than just exporting reports.
For QuickBooks Desktop:
This is generally easier since your data is stored locally.
Go to File > Backup Company > Create Local Backup.
Save this backup file to a secure location on your computer or an external hard drive. This is your master record.
Make sure you've exported or backed up everything you might need for future reference, tax purposes, or auditing. This includes:
Invoices and payments
Vendor bills
Payroll records
Reports (P&L, Balance Sheet, etc.)
Chart of Accounts
Customer and vendor lists
Sub-heading: Settle any pending transactions
Check for any outstanding invoices, payments, or other unfinished transactions. Make sure everything is reconciled and closed out. Leaving loose ends can complicate the cancellation process and may lead to issues down the line. If you have any pending payments, clear them before you proceed.
Step 2: The Cancellation Process - Choose Your Path
The steps to cancel your account depend on which QuickBooks product you use and where you purchased your subscription. The process for QuickBooks Online is different from QuickBooks Desktop, and a subscription purchased through a mobile app store has its own set of rules.
Sub-heading: Canceling QuickBooks Online Subscription
This is the most common scenario. The process is straightforward, but you need to be logged in as an admin user.
Here's the path to follow:
Sign in to QuickBooks Online. Use your web browser to log into your account as the admin user.
Navigate to Account and Settings. Look for the Gear icon (⚙) in the top right corner of the screen and select Account and Settings.
Go to Billing & Subscription. In the left-hand menu, click on Billing & Subscription.
Initiate the cancellation. In the QuickBooks section, you will see a button to Cancel subscription or Cancel online. If you're on a trial, it will say Cancel trial. Click on it.
Follow the on-screen prompts. QuickBooks will ask you for a reason for canceling. While optional, providing feedback can help them improve their service. You will be guided through a series of screens to confirm your decision.
Confirm the cancellation. After following all the steps, you'll see a confirmation message. You will also receive a confirmation email detailing the cancellation. Keep this email for your records.
Important note: After you cancel, your access will continue until the end of your current billing period. You will not be charged for the next billing cycle.
Sub-heading: Canceling QuickBooks Desktop Subscription
For QuickBooks Desktop, the process involves logging into your Intuit Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPs).
Here are the steps:
Log into your CAMPs account. Go to the Intuit Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPs) and sign in with your Intuit account credentials.
Locate your subscription. In the Products & Services section, find the QuickBooks Desktop subscription you want to cancel.
Select 'Details'. Click on Details next to the subscription.
Initiate the cancellation. Under the subscription's active status, look for and click Cancel Service.
Provide feedback and confirm. You may be prompted to provide feedback on why you're canceling. Follow the prompts and click Continue to Cancel and then Cancel Now to finalize.
Remember: If you're using a desktop version that requires an annual subscription, you might not be eligible for a refund for the unused portion of your subscription after the initial money-back guarantee period (usually 60 days).
Sub-heading: Canceling a Subscription Purchased via a Mobile App Store (Apple/Google Play)
If you subscribed to QuickBooks Self-Employed or another QuickBooks product through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you must cancel it through the respective store's subscription management settings.
For Apple App Store:
Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap on your Name at the top.
Select Subscriptions.
Find and tap your QuickBooks subscription.
Tap Cancel Subscription.
For Google Play Store:
Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) or your profile icon.
Select Subscriptions.
Find your QuickBooks subscription and tap on it.
Tap Cancel subscription.
Step 3: What Happens After You Cancel?
So, you've successfully canceled. What now? It's important to understand the aftermath of your decision.
Sub-heading: Read-Only Access
As mentioned, QuickBooks typically provides read-only access to your data for a certain period, usually up to one year. This means you can log in, view your past records and reports, and even print them, but you cannot add new data, edit existing transactions, or run payroll. This is a great safety net if you forget to back up something critical in Step 1.
Sub-heading: Data Deletion
After the read-only period, your data will be permanently deleted. This is why the backup in Step 1 is so critical. Once it's gone, it's gone for good. If you ever decide to resubscribe after your data has been deleted, you'll be starting from scratch.
Step 4: Deleting Your Entire Intuit Account (Optional but Permanent)
Canceling a QuickBooks subscription does not automatically delete your entire Intuit account. Your Intuit account is a central hub for all Intuit products, including TurboTax, Mint, and others. If you want to permanently delete all your data and your user ID, you can submit a deletion request.
Here’s how to submit a data deletion request:
Sign in to the Intuit Account Manager. Go to accounts.intuit.com.
Go to Data privacy. In the left menu, select Data privacy.
Select Delete. Under the Data privacy section, you'll see a 'Delete' option. Click Continue.
Follow the instructions. You'll be prompted to confirm your email and follow a series of on-screen instructions to submit a deletion request. You may even be able to select which specific product data you want to delete.
Be warned: This is a permanent action. Once you submit this request, all data, including your login information, personal contact information, and data from all associated Intuit products, will be deleted. This process can take up to 90 days. During this time, you should not create a new Intuit account with the same email address, or the new data may also be deleted.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to cancel my QuickBooks trial?
You can cancel a QuickBooks trial by logging into your account, going to Settings (⚙) > Account and Settings > Billing & Subscription, and then selecting Cancel trial. Your trial will expire automatically if you haven't entered billing information.
How to reactivate my QuickBooks account after cancellation?
You can typically reactivate your account within one year of cancellation by logging in and following the prompts to resubscribe. Your data will be available in read-only mode during this time, allowing you to pick up where you left off.
How to get a refund after canceling QuickBooks?
QuickBooks generally offers a full refund if you cancel within the first 30 or 60 days of your subscription, depending on the promotion or product. After this money-back guarantee period, prepaid fees are usually non-refundable, and you'll have access to your account until the end of your paid billing cycle.
How to export all my data from QuickBooks Online?
To export your data from QuickBooks Online, you can go to your reports section and export reports to Excel or PDF. For a more comprehensive backup, you might need to use a third-party application or download a data backup file if that option is available for your subscription type.
How to contact QuickBooks support for cancellation help?
If you face issues with the self-service cancellation process, you can contact QuickBooks customer support. You can often find a "Contact Us" or "Help" link within your QuickBooks account. Be prepared with your account details and a clear description of your issue.
How to cancel QuickBooks Self-Employed?
To cancel QuickBooks Self-Employed, log in to your account via a web browser, go to the Gear icon (⚙), select Billing Info, and then click Cancel subscription. If you purchased it from a mobile app store, you must cancel it through the store's subscription settings.
How to check my billing cycle in QuickBooks?
You can check your billing cycle by logging into your QuickBooks account, going to Settings (⚙), and then selecting Account and Settings > Billing & Subscription. This section shows your next billing date and payment history.
How to cancel a QuickBooks payroll subscription?
To cancel a QuickBooks payroll subscription, you need to go to your subscription management settings, often found under Billing & Subscription in your account settings. You may also need to contact the payroll support team to finalize the cancellation.
How to cancel my QuickBooks Desktop payroll service?
For QuickBooks Desktop payroll, you need to log into your Intuit Account Manager (CAMPs), find your payroll subscription under Products & Services, and select Cancel Service.
How to know if my QuickBooks account is completely deleted?
After submitting a data deletion request, you will receive email confirmations. The process can take up to 90 days. After that period, you will no longer be able to log in with your user ID and password. It's a good idea to keep the confirmation emails for your records.