As of July 31, 2024, Intuit will stop offering new subscriptions for several QuickBooks Desktop products, marking a major change in how these services are delivered. This change is part of the transition that started in 2022, when Intuit made QuickBooks Desktop subscription-only—a response to a wider industry trend towards subscription-based services. For business owners and not-for-profit managers, keeping up with these developments is essential to ensure smooth and uninterrupted accounting processes.
Upcoming Changes to QuickBooks Desktop
QuickBooks Desktop is not going away entirely. Existing subscribers can renew their subscriptions for QuickBooks Desktop Plus and Desktop Payroll beyond July 31, 2024. However, availability, special features, and service and support options may change at any time without notice. Intuit will continue providing security updates, product updates and support for existing subscribers. Also, any customer who has bought a QuickBooks Desktop Plus or Enhanced Payroll subscription before the cutoff date of July 31, 2024, can continue using QuickBooks Desktop on an annual subscription basis. It is essential to have an active, supported version of QuickBooks Desktop; otherwise, access will be lost for live technical support, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, QuickBooks Desktop Payments and online bank feeds. Unsupported versions will also not receive the latest critical security patches and updates.
Effects on Payroll Services
For those using QuickBooks Desktop for payroll, active subscriptions, including the 2024/25 versions, will continue to support payroll services. This is particularly relevant for users of QuickBooks Enterprise, where Assisted Payroll remains an available feature.
Alternatives to QuickBooks Desktop
QuickBooks Online (QBO) is a smart choice for businesses adapting to the evolving landscape of accounting software and collaboration among a distributed workforce. Intuit has continued to refine and upgrade QBO since it was first introduced in the early 2000s. In its early stages, the features and reporting capabilities were not as robust as QuickBooks Desktop. Today, however, QBO offers superior automation, advanced features and a more extensive list of third-party app integrations than the Desktop platform. Its cloud-based nature not only provides accessibility from anywhere but also ensures your data is backed up and security updates are installed automatically, significantly reducing IT-related oversight on your part. Additionally, its integrations with other cloud-based apps are continuous and seamless, as opposed to the manual synchronization required by the Desktop version.
QBO has been designed with a slightly different interface than QuickBooks Desktop, as it has been tailored for the web-based experience. Overall, the systems function similarly, and becoming familiar with the workflows leads to more productive use of the software.
For those requiring specialized features, platforms like Sage Intacct, Oracle NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics offer tailored solutions that meet complex consolidations or industry-specific requirements.
We Can Help
Whether you’re considering a move to QuickBooks Online, staying with QuickBooks Desktop or evaluating other software options, CBM’s accounting advisory team is committed to supporting you through these updates. With proper planning, you can avoid surprises and mitigate interruptions to your accounting processes.
Contact Dominick Bellia, director of accounting and advisory services, with any questions via our online contact form.
Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell (CBM) is a professional services firm delivering tax, accounting and business advisory expertise throughout the Mid-Atlantic region from our office in Bethesda, MD.
