Start your business
Start your business
Run your business
Run your business
Grow your business
Grow your business
Accountants and Bookkeepers
Accountants and Bookkeepers
- Accountants and Bookkeepers
  Learn how accountants and bookkeepers can be productive in these articles & guides
- Learning and Development
  A range of informative content to enhance your QuickBooks experience.
Updates
Updates
- Product Updates
  Watch this space for monthly product updates.
- Intuit News
  Latest news, articles & guides

Need help choosing a plan?

1800 917 771 Schedule a call

Schedule call

product update

April 2024 Product Update

By Meagan Wood

Published on April 18, 2024

Enhanced Budgeting Experience

Budgets provide businesses with a map to forecast results and measure performance. The intent of a budget is to provide visibility - and often peace of mind - into the financial stability of the business. To help our customers establish a solid budget, we have updated the budgeting function in QuickBooks Online Plus and Advanced.

Accessed via Budgets in the left hand navigation in QuickBooks Online Plus or via Financial Planning in the left hand navigation in QuickBooks Online Advanced, outlined below are the new features you have access to.

The budget wizard

When you create a budget, you will be provided guidance on the set up process. During this step, you’ll get to outline the criteria you want included in your budget such as which financial year it relates to, whether the budget is consolidated or subdivided by location, class or customer, what reference data you would like included in the budget or whether you want to create a customised budget from scratch.

Alternatively, you can always create a customised budget from scratch by importing it from Excel using the template provided.

A black and white image of a computer keyboard.

Consolidate vs Subdivided budgets

You can now select whether you would like to create a consolidated budget or whether you would like to subdivide it using the locations, classes or customers set up for your business.

Using the sub-divided format enables you to drill into the detail and have budget visibility across the locations, classes or customers in your business. You can learn more about using locations and classes here.

A black and white image of a computer screen.

Easily compare your actual data

When creating your budget or simply to review as a comparison, you can select which data you would like to use. You can select to compare your budget values to the current year or prior year data at any time.

To compare or not to compare

For additional flexibility, you can elect to turn on or off displaying your actual data with your budget data.

Batch options

Where required, you can select multiple accounts to either clear the data or to copy reference data.

A black and white image of a cell phone.

Search functionality

To help you navigate around larger budgets, you can use the search functionality to find a particular chart of account code or account name.

You can learn more about budgeting in QuickBooks Online here.

Additional Budget Import Option

Historically you were able to import a consolidated budget. Today, you have an additional option to import your budget subdivided by Location, Class or Customer.

A computer keyboard and mouse on a table.

Using the provided template, any locations, classes or customers are automatically added to the import template for you to import. You can learn more about importing budgets here.

Updated Roles and Permissions

Based on recent research, we’re making changes to our standard user roles in QuickBooks Online Essentials, Plus and Advanced to make managing user access even easier.

The changes will commence rolling out from mid May. Importantly, these changes will not impact the roles currently available in QuickBooks Online Accountant.

What’s changing?

We’ll be introducing a new role, updating three existing roles and removing two roles. You can learn more about these changes below.

New Bookkeeper role

Due to popular demand, we’re adding a Bookkeeper role to support those businesses who have an in-house bookkeeper.

Updated roles

We’re also updating three existing roles:

The ‘Standard limited customers only’ role will be renamed to ‘Accounts Receivable Manager’ and updated to provide additional access to record bank deposits to help complete the accounts receivable process.
The ‘Standard limited suppliers only’ role will be renamed to ‘Accounts Payable Manager’ and users assigned this role can now be designated as the approver for bills when setting up workflows in QuickBooks Online Advanced.
The ‘Standard all access without payroll’ role will be renamed to ‘In-house accountant’ and users assigned this role can now be designated as the approver for bills when setting up workflows in QuickBooks Online Advanced.

Removed roles

The ‘Standard no access’ role and the ‘Standard limited customer and supplier’ role will be discontinued however if your clients currently have users assigned to these roles, they will continue to operate as they do today.

If you’d like to learn more about managing how to manage access or how to add users in QuickBooks Online, you can learn more in this article or by watching this video.

Payroll super payment improvements

Integrate Super Payments with a Pay Run

Functionality has been added to the pay schedule settings, including the option to automatically create a super payment when finalising the pay run. Payrun and super payments modules are now connected, ensuring that superannuation contributions from each payrun are batched together.

This feature introduces a seamless integration between pay runs and superannuation payments and reduces the steps required for users to improve their superannuation compliance obligations.

This feature is only available to full admin users.

The new functionality saves full admin users time by being able to create a super payment when they are finalising a pay run rather than having to do this as a completely separate process in the reporting section and simplifies superannuation compliance as the pay run and super payments module are now connected.

Pay Schedule Settings

As part of the pay run finalisation process, users can now select to create a super payment immediately, or manually at a later date. Find out how below:

1. Navigate to Pay Schedules

2. Edit existing Pay Schedule

3. Click here under the pay run finalisation settings

4. From here you can select to create super payment immediately, or manually at a later data

5. To save your changes, select Next and Complete

Please note:

For users with Beam integration enabled, super payments created from the pay run will automatically be created as a Beam super payment by default.

For users who do not have Beam integration enabled, super payments created from the pay run will automatically be created as a manual super payment by default.

Icon Status Guide

You can check the status of your super payment on the pay runs page by hovering over the super icon, located next to the date paid column.

Grey: when the icon is grey, the super payment hasn’t been submitted (Beam super payments) or marked as paid (Manual super payments).

Yellow: when the icon is yellow, the super payment has been submitted, this icon will only appear for users with Beam integration enabled.

Green: when the icon is green, the super payment has been received (Beam super payments) or marked as paid (Manual super payments).

Red: when the icon is red, the super payment has failed, or there may be an error or return to your super payment, this icon will only appear for users with Beam integration enabled.

product update

April 2023 Product Update

April 20, 2023

product update

March 2023 Product Update

March 22, 2023

product update

February 2023 Product Update

February 24, 2023

Looking for something else?

Get QuickBooks

Smart features made for your business. We've got you covered.

See how it works

Help Me Choose

Use our product selector to find the best accounting software for you.

Choose your product

QuickBooks Support

Get help with QuickBooks. Find articles, video tutorials, and more.

Start learning

Stay up-to-date with the latest small business insights and trends!

Want more? Visit our tools and templates!

First Name*

Email*

What best describes you?*

By signing up you are agreeing to our terms and privacy policy.

- - QuickBooks reserves the right to change pricing, features, support and service at any time. Prices are in AUD and include GST. See our Terms of Service for further information.
  - Pricing: All prices are in AUD and include GST.
  - ProAdvisor Program: Please find the terms of our ProAdvisor program here.
  - 30% off for 3 months: For new subscribers, enjoy a 30% off price subscription on QuickBooks Online Simple Start, QuickBooks Online Essentials or QuickBooks Online Plus for the first 3 months of your subscription (Offer). The discount will applied from the date of your enrolment and will continue for 3 months. From month 4, you will be charged the then current monthly retail price for your subscription. See current prices here. QuickBooks Payroll and QuickBooks Time prices are not eligible for any discount and will be invoiced separately according to your usage on a monthly basis during your subscription. Intuit reserves the right to request information to verify the eligibility of a purchaser of the Offer. Acceptance of such verification information is at the reasonable discretion of Intuit, which may revoke the Offer and impose a monthly cost for the subscription at the then current retail prices, at any time if it considers the purchaser is ineligible for the Offer.
  - 30% off for 12 months: For new subscribers, enjoy a 30% discount off the current monthly retail price for QuickBooks Self-Employed, QuickBooks Online Simple Start, QuickBooks Online Essentials or QuickBooks Online Plus for the first 12 months of your subscription (Offer). The discount will applied from the date of your enrolment and will continue for 12 months. From month 13, you will be charged the then current monthly retail price for your subscription. See current prices here. QuickBooks Payroll and QuickBooks Time prices are not eligible for any discount and will be invoiced separately according to your usage on a monthly basis during your subscription. Intuit reserves the right to request information to verify the eligibility of a purchaser of the Offer. Acceptance of such verification information is at the reasonable discretion of Intuit, which may revoke the Offer and impose a monthly cost for the subscription at the then current retail prices, at any time if it considers the purchaser is ineligible for the Offer.
  - 30% off for 3 months (existing subscribers): For existing QuickBooks subscribers who upgrade to QuickBooks Online Essentials, Plus or Advanced, enjoy a 30% discount off the current monthly retail price for 3 months of your subscription (Offer). The discount will be applied from the date you upgrade in-product and will continue for 3 months. From month 4, you will be charged the then current monthly retail price for your subscription. See current prices here. QuickBooks Payroll and QuickBooks Time services and prices are not eligible for any discount and will be invoiced separately according to your usage on a monthly basis during your subscription. Intuit reserves the right to request information to verify the eligibility of a purchaser of the Offer. Acceptance of such verification information is at the reasonable discretion of Intuit, which may revoke the Offer and impose a monthly cost for the subscription at the then current retail prices, at any time if it considers the purchaser is ineligible for the Offer.
  - Free Trial: First thirty (30) days of subscription to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed and QuickBooks Payroll (including QuickBooks Advanced Payroll), starting from the date of enrolment, is free. During the free trial, you may pay any number of employees using QuickBooks Payroll free of charge. To continue using QuickBooks after your 30-day trial, you'll be asked to present a valid credit card for authorisation and you'll be charged monthly at the then-current fee for the service(s) you've selected.
  - QuickBooks Payroll powered by Employment Hero: Payroll services are offered by a third party, Employment Hero. QuickBooks Payroll is only accessible via QuickBooks Online subscriptions. You will be charged $6.00 (incl. GST) per month for each ‘active employee’ paid using QuickBooks Payroll. An ‘active employee’ is one who has been paid at least once in the billing month. For Advanced Payroll, there is an additional monthly subscription fee of $10 (incl GST). Pricing, terms and conditions, including service options, are subject to change.
  * Employment Hero was voted the leading payroll solution for SMBs <50 employees (Australian Payroll Association 2021 Payroll Benchmarking Study)
  - Customer support: Call or chat to an expert for QuickBooks Online Accountant, QuickBooks Simple Start, Essential, Plus, and Advanced or use in-product QB Assistant and chat for QuickBooks Self-Employed. You'll also find useful resources in the QuickBooks Community.
  - Compatible Devices: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed and QuickBooks Payroll require a computer with Internet Explorer 10, Firefox, Chrome, or Safari 6 and an Internet connection (a high-speed connection is recommended). The QuickBooks Online mobile app works with iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll are accessible on mobile browsers on iOS, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices. Devices sold separately; data plan required. QuickBooks Payroll cannot be used on the mobile apps. Not all features are available on the mobile apps and mobile browser. QuickBooks Online mobile access is included with your QuickBooks Online subscription at no additional cost. Data access is subject to cellular/internet provider network availability and occasional downtime due to system and server maintenance and events beyond your control. Product registration required.
  - Get paid faster: Get paid 2.5x faster invoicing with PayPal
  * PayPal and QuickBooks customers get paid on average in less than 5 days, which is over 7 days faster than the average for invoices that get paid with other payment methods. Data is for paid invoices that were created in QuickBooks in Australia between 23.05.22 and 23.11.22
  - Tax deductions: Tax deductions not guaranteed due to being subject to user data entry errors. Mileage calculation provided by the Australia Taxation Office - 85 cents per kilometre for the 2023-2024 income year. To a maximum of 5,000 business kilometres per car (Deductions are only applicable to cars)
  - Customer Service Awards: Excellence in Customer Service Award at the CX Australia Awards 2022
  - Multiple file discount: Multiple file discount applies to QuickBooks Australia customers only and valid when signing up for more than one QuickBooks Online subscription in one order. Further terms and conditions available here. Not applicable to QuickBooks Self Employed.
  - Reviews: GetApp, Capterra, Google Play Store, Apple App Store reviews as at date 08/01/24.
  - Cost per day claim (annual): Based on a QuickBooks Simple Start plan at its regular retail price of $313 per year and a 365 day year.
  - Annual Billing: You may pay for your QuickBooks Online subscription on an annual, upfront basis to enjoy a discount on the current fees. If you use QuickBooks Payroll powered by Employment Hero, your payroll costs will still be charged monthly to your nominated payment method in accordance with your usage as set out here. If you cancel your QuickBooks Online subscription within the pre-paid 12 month period, you will not be eligible for a refund, but will retain full access to your QuickBooks Online subscription for the remainder of the 12-month period. Unless cancelled by you prior, your annual subscription will auto-renew on the 12 month anniversary of your sign-up date using the billing details you have given us. Discounts, prices, terms and conditions are subject to change.
  - Over 7 million customers: Based on number of global QB customers (ecosystem) (7.1m) worldwide as of October 2022.
  - Free Onboarding: Applicable to Buy Now subscriptions on QuickBooks Simple Start, Essentials and Plus plans. Not available for QuickBooks Self-Employed.
  - Save Hours: Save up to an average of 29 hours per month with QuickBooks.
  - * Based on a survey conducted by Intuit Australia Pty Ltd in September 2022. Time saving is in comparison to previous accounting method, based on 184 responses from customers that saw time savings.
  - Get access to QuickBooks Tax: ***Access QuickBooks Tax, powered by LodgeiT, by becoming a member of the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program (it’s free to join). Find out more about the ProAdvisor Program here, including the terms of the QuickBooks Tax offer in the Program here.
  - QuickBooks Time Disclaimers & Offers for Australia: For Important pricing offers and disclaimers with further information, please see here.
  - *Full terms and conditions for access to QuickBooks Tax, powered by LodgeiT as part of the the Proadvisor Program can be found here. QuickBooks reserves the right to change pricing, features, support and service at any time.
  - **Intuit conducted a study involving 56 interviews with accountants and bookkeepers who used Books Review for BAS preparation between March to December 2021 and found that when using Books Review, participants reduced the time spent preparing their clients BAS Reports by around 40%.
  - Our Terms of Service apply to all QuickBooks Online subscriptions. Please review them carefully.

Intuit helps put more money in consumers’ and small businesses’ pockets, saving them time by eliminating work, and ensuring they have confidence in every financial decision they make.

April 2024 Product Update

Enhanced Budgeting Experience

The budget wizard

Consolidate vs Subdivided budgets

Easily compare your actual data

To compare or not to compare

Batch options

Search functionality

Additional Budget Import Option

Updated Roles and Permissions

What’s changing?

Payroll super payment improvements

Integrate Super Payments with a Pay Run

This feature is only available to full admin users.

Pay Schedule Settings

Icon Status Guide

Related Articles

Looking for something else?

Get QuickBooks

Help Me Choose

QuickBooks Support

Stay up-to-date with the latest small business insights and trends!