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Enter or Edit Your Payroll Service Key

When you purchase QuickBooks® Payroll, you are assigned a 16-digit service key that is specific to your EIN and payroll service. You must enter this service key into QuickBooks to activate the payroll service in your QuickBooks file.

Step 1: Obtain your service key. It usually comes by e-mail. If you do not have your service key, use our automated Service Key Retrieval tool. You will need to sign in using your Intuit® Account  If you are unable to retrieve your service key using this tool, contact us. The automated tool may not work if:

  • there are multiple payroll orders in our system for your company,
  • you purchased your payroll product from a retail store, or
  • the business phone number you provided did not match what Intuit® has on file.

Step 2: Open the QuickBooks Service Keys window. If you do not have a payroll service in your company file, choose Employees > Payroll > Enter Payroll Service Key.

If you do have a payroll service in your company file, choose Employees > My Payroll Service > Manage Payroll Service.

Step 3: In the QuickBooks Service Keys window:

  • Select Add, if no payroll service is listed.
  • Select Edit, if a payroll service is listed.


  • Select Edit, if a payroll service is listed.


  • Select Edit, and take note of the service key.


  • Remove payroll service key in QuickBooks Desktop.


  • Select Next and then
  • When thePayroll Update message appears, select OK.
  • Verify the Service Status shows ACTIVE and then select OK.



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