Intuit to Discontinue Supporting QuickBooks Desktop 2021 in May 2024

Impacted users are encouraged to plan for necessary upgrades today to continue service.

Intuit has started to send notices to QuickBooks Desktop 2021 and earlier users, informing them that the software will lose support by May 31, 2024. Although users have the option to upgrade to a newer supported QuickBooks version, this must be completed prior to July 31, 2024.

Additionally, Intuit has recently decided to stop selling certain Desktop products to new customers effective from this date. Organizations utilizing QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier 2021 and earlier are advised to prepare today for the upcoming changes.

Here’s what you need to know about QuickBooks Desktop service discontinuation.

When does service discontinuation happen?

After May 31, 2024, your QuickBooks Desktop 2021 software will be discontinued. This includes all 2021 versions of QuickBooks Desktop Pro, QuickBooks Desktop Premier, QuickBooks Desktop for Mac, and QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions v21. Other Intuit products are affected by the software discontinuation.

If you don’t upgrade your QuickBooks Desktop 2021 by May 31, 2024, you won’t have access to live technical support if you run into problems or any of the other Intuit services that can be integrated with QuickBooks Desktop. This includes QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, QuickBooks Desktop Payments, and online bank feeds. Discontinued versions won’t receive the latest critical security patches and updates.

What does service discontinuation mean?

Your access to QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, Desktop Payments, live technical support, Online Backup, Online Banking, and other services through QuickBooks Desktop 2021 software will be discontinued after May 31, 2024. This also means you won’t receive critical security updates protecting your data starting June 1, 2024.

Products affected by service discontinuation after May 31, 2024

• QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2021
• QuickBooks Desktop Premier 2021 (General Business, Contractor, Manufacturing & Wholesale, Nonprofit, Professional Services, and Retail)
• QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 21
• QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition 2021
• QuickBooks Enterprise Accountant 21
• QuickBooks Desktop for Mac 2021

Products affected by service discontinuation after October 3, 2024

• QuickBooks Desktop Point of Sale 19.0

What are the affected 2021 services?

Additional information on the affected services and features will be provided by Intuit as they become available.

Payroll Services

• Assisted Payroll: After May 31, 2024, QuickBooks Desktop 2021 won’t automatically calculate correct payroll taxes, provide payroll forms, or allow you to send your payroll data. Your subscription will be deactivated and tax forms won’t be filed on your behalf. QuickBooks Desktop Discontinuation FAQ for Payroll.
• Basic, Standard, or Enhanced Payroll: After May 31, 2024, QuickBooks Desktop 2021 won’t automatically calculate correct payroll taxes or provide payroll tax forms. Your paychecks may be inaccurate and your subscription will be deactivated. QuickBooks Desktop Discontinuation FAQ for Payroll.
• Workers’ Comp Payment Service: You won’t be able to process Workers’ Comp Payments through QuickBooks Desktop 2021. A supported version of QuickBooks and an active Payroll subscription are required to run the payment service.
• QuickBooks Workforce (formerly ViewMyPaycheck): You and your employees won’t have access to QuickBooks Workforce. You are required to have an active Payroll subscription and supported version of QuickBooks to use this service.
• Payroll: After May 31, 2024, QuickBooks Desktop 2021 won’t automatically calculate correct payroll taxes or provide payroll tax forms. Your paychecks may be inaccurate and your subscription will be deactivated.

Credit Card Processing

• Payment Processing: You’ll get a message that the service is no longer available. You won’t be able to process credit card and check transactions through QuickBooks Desktop 2021. The message will include instructions for processing credit card and check transactions outside QuickBooks.
• Merchant Service Deposit (Reconciliation): After May 31, 2024, QuickBooks Desktop 2021 won’t download credit card and check info in the product.
• Recurring Payments: QuickBooks Desktop 2021 won’t download your recurring payments. These transactions will continue to process. You can manage your Recurring Payments at MerchantCenter.intuit.com.
• eInvoice: After May 31, 2024, you won’t be able to process eInvoice (email of invoice with pay link enabled) through QuickBooks Desktop 2021. You’re required to have a supported version of QuickBooks and an active payments subscription to run this service.

Other Services

• Accountant Copy Transfer Service: You won’t be able to send accountant copies in QuickBooks Desktop using this service.
• Contributed Reports: You won’t be able to use this feature in QuickBooks Desktop.
• Multi-currency/Exchange Rate: You won’t be able to use or turn on this feature to assign specific currency types to your profiles and accounts in QuickBooks Desktop.
• Online Banking: You won’t be able to download transactions, send online payments, or send online transfers. The exact error message depends on your download method. For example, you may receive, “QuickBooks Desktop is unable to verify the Financial Institution Information for this Download.”
  • • Note: Uploading transactions will also be discontinued.
• QuickBooks Time: The use of QuickBooks Time within QuickBooks 2021 won’t be available. To sync your QuickBooks Time Data with QuickBooks, move to QuickBooks Online or use a web connector.

For further details, you can consult Intuit’s Frequently Asked Questions about the stop sell.

Take Action Today – Contact Maner Costerisan to Help!

Staying on a supported version of QuickBooks Desktop is crucial to ensure continued access to live technical support and Intuit’s add-on services like QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, QuickBooks Desktop Payments, and online bank feeds. Unsupported versions may miss out on critical security updates and patches.

If you need help evaluating your options, upgrading your QuickBooks Desktop version, or transitioning to QuickBooks Online, please reach out to Clayton Stiffler, CPA, CCIFP, Principal, for assistance at maner@manercpa.com or by calling us directly at 517-323-7500.