Of course! Let's get you through the process of canceling your Intuit QuickBooks subscription with a detailed, step-by-step guide. It can feel a bit daunting, but with the right information, you'll have it sorted in no time.
Ready to say goodbye to your QuickBooks subscription? Let's walk through it together.
Whether you're looking to cut down on expenses, have found a different solution that better fits your needs, or simply no longer require accounting software, canceling your QuickBooks subscription is a straightforward process. Before we dive into the steps, let's take a moment to prepare so you don't lose any important data and can make a clean break.
Step 1: The All-Important Preparation Phase
This is a crucial step! Don't jump straight to the cancellation button. You need to ensure you have all your financial information safely backed up. Think of it as packing up all your belongings before you move out of a house. You wouldn't want to leave anything behind, right?
Export Your Data!
This is the most critical action you need to take. After you cancel, your access to your data will be limited. QuickBooks Online typically provides read-only access for a limited time (often one year), but it's always best to have your own copy.
For QuickBooks Online: You can export your reports and lists to a spreadsheet like Excel. Go to the Gear icon (⚙️) > Export data. From there, you can choose what to export, such as reports and lists. Make sure to set the date range to include all your data.
For QuickBooks Desktop: You can create a local backup of your company file. Go to File > Backup Company > Create Local Backup. Save this file to a secure location on your computer or an external drive. This backup is a complete snapshot of your company file.
Settle Outstanding Transactions.
Take a quick look to see if you have any pending invoices, payments, or unfinished transactions. It's best to handle these before you cancel to avoid any loose ends. This includes any pending payroll runs or tax payments if you were using QuickBooks Payroll.
Check Your Billing Cycle.
Know when your next payment is due. Canceling close to the end of your billing cycle can help you maximize the value of your subscription without being charged for another period. Note that if you have an annual plan, you generally won't receive a prorated refund for the unused portion, and your access will continue until the end of the paid period.
Step 2: The Cancellation Process - QuickBooks Online
This is the most common version of QuickBooks. The process is generally initiated from within your account settings.
Sub-heading: If you subscribed directly from the Intuit website:
Sign in as the Admin.
You must be the primary or company administrator to cancel the subscription.
Navigate to the Gear Icon.
In the top-right corner of your QuickBooks Online dashboard, you'll see a Gear icon (⚙️). Click on it to open the settings menu.
Go to Subscriptions and Billing.
Under the "Your Company" section, select Subscriptions and billing. This will take you to a page where you can manage your subscription details.
Initiate the Cancellation.
In the "QuickBooks" section, you'll see your current plan. Look for an option that says "Cancel subscription" or "Cancel online." If you're on a trial, it might say "Cancel your trial."
Follow the On-Screen Prompts.
QuickBooks will likely ask you for a reason for canceling and might present you with an offer to stay. Carefully follow the on-screen steps to complete the process.
Confirm Your Cancellation.
You will receive a confirmation pop-up or email once the cancellation is complete. Keep this confirmation for your records.
Sub-heading: If you subscribed through a mobile app store (Apple App Store or Google Play):
The steps here are different! You need to cancel the subscription directly through the app store, as Intuit does not handle the billing.
Open the App Store.
Go to the App Store on your iPhone or iPad, or Google Play on your Android device.
Find Your Subscriptions.
On Apple devices, go to your Account > Subscriptions. On Android, open the menu (☰) > Subscriptions.
Locate the QuickBooks App.
Find your QuickBooks subscription in the list of active subscriptions.
Cancel the Subscription.
Select the QuickBooks app and then choose the option to "Cancel Subscription."
Confirm.
Follow the prompts to confirm the cancellation.
Step 3: The Cancellation Process - QuickBooks Desktop
Canceling a QuickBooks Desktop subscription is a bit different as it often involves your Intuit Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPs).
Log in to Your CAMPs Account.
Go to the Intuit Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPs) and sign in using your Intuit account credentials.
Find Your Products & Services.
Once logged in, navigate to the "Products & Services" section. This is where you'll see all your active subscriptions and services.
Select the Product to Cancel.
Find your QuickBooks Desktop subscription and click on Details next to it.
Initiate the Cancellation.
Under the active status of your subscription, you should see a "Cancel Service" option. Click on it.
Provide Feedback (Optional).
You might be prompted to provide feedback on why you are canceling. While optional, providing feedback can help Intuit improve its services.
Finalize the Cancellation.
Follow the remaining on-screen instructions, which will likely involve a confirmation step like "Continue to Cancel" and then "Cancel Now."
Check for Confirmation.
You should receive an email confirming that your cancellation request has been processed.
Step 4: The Cancellation Process - QuickBooks Payroll
If you have a separate QuickBooks Payroll subscription, you may need to cancel it separately.
For QuickBooks Online Payroll:
The process is similar to canceling QuickBooks Online. In your QuickBooks Online account, go to the Gear icon (⚙️) > Account and settings > Billing & Subscription. In the Payroll section, select Cancel. You'll need to fill out a cancellation form to finalize the process.
For QuickBooks Desktop Payroll:
You can often cancel your payroll service through the desktop software itself by going to Employees > My Payroll Service > Billing/Account Info and then selecting Cancel Service. Alternatively, you can follow the steps for canceling a Desktop subscription through the CAMPs portal as described in Step 3.
Important Note: Before you cancel your payroll subscription, be sure to complete your final payroll tasks, including processing the last payroll run, printing necessary reports, and paying any outstanding tax deposits.
Step 5: The Aftermath - What Happens to Your Data?
So, you've canceled. Now what?
QuickBooks Online Data: Your data will generally be available in a read-only format for one year from the cancellation date. This means you can view your information but cannot make any changes or add new data. After this period, your data will be permanently deleted.
QuickBooks Desktop Data: Since your data is stored locally on your computer, you will retain access to your company file. However, you will lose access to subscription-dependent features and services like payroll, live support, and automatic bank feeds. The software may revert to a limited, read-only mode after a certain period.
No Pro-Rated Refunds: As a general policy, Intuit does not provide prorated refunds. If you cancel an annual or monthly plan, you can continue to use the service until the end of your current billing period.
10 Related FAQs
How to reactivate my QuickBooks subscription after canceling?
You can easily reactivate your subscription by logging into your Intuit account or QuickBooks, and you will see an option to resubscribe. You'll be able to pick up where you left off.
How to know if I am the primary admin for my QuickBooks account?
You can check your user permissions within QuickBooks Online by going to the Gear icon (⚙️) > Manage users. If you are the master or company admin, you will have the ability to manage other users and subscription details.
How to back up my QuickBooks Online data?
Go to the Gear icon (⚙️) > Export data. From there, you can select which reports and lists you want to export to an Excel file for your records.
How to check my QuickBooks Desktop billing cycle?
You can find this information by logging into your Intuit Customer Account Management Portal (CAMPs) and reviewing the details of your subscription under the "Products & Services" section.
How to cancel my QuickBooks Self-Employed subscription?
If you bought it directly from QuickBooks, go to the Gear icon (⚙️) > Billing Info > Cancel subscription. If you bought it from a mobile app store, you need to cancel it through your phone's subscription settings.
How to get a refund for my QuickBooks subscription?
QuickBooks Online typically offers a money-back guarantee (often 30 to 60 days) for new subscriptions. If you are within this period, you may be eligible for a full refund. You usually need to contact their support to process this. After the guarantee period, refunds are generally not provided.
How to contact QuickBooks customer support for cancellation issues?
You can usually find a "Contact Us" or "Help" button within the QuickBooks software. This will often direct you to a chat or a phone number to speak with a support agent who can assist with cancellations.
How to export my data if I don't have Microsoft Excel?
You can export reports and lists to other formats like PDF. Simply run the report you need within QuickBooks and look for the export icon, which often allows you to save it as a PDF.
How to cancel a QuickBooks trial without being charged?
QuickBooks trials typically expire automatically if you haven't provided billing information. However, to be safe, you can explicitly cancel the trial from within the account settings by following the cancellation steps for your product.
How to cancel a subscription purchased from an accountant?
If your accountant is managing your billing, you will need to contact them directly to cancel the subscription. They will have to transfer the billing to you or cancel it on your behalf.