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Request to be the primary admin or contact

by Intuit•3• Updated 4 months ago

Learn how to request to be the primary admin or contact for a QuickBooks account.

There are instances when the primary admin or contact changes due to several reasons. For your account security, it’s important to update your contact information especially when there’s a transition in your business.

Things you can do as a primary admin or contact

As the primary admin or contact, you can transfer the primary admin of your QuickBooks Online account.

Transferring the primary admin role to an accounting firm/firm user can affect:

  • Billing
  • User management
  • Support plan
  • Bank account changes

Note: For a bank account attached to a payroll account for money movement, the Primary Admin must have the business owner’s info. If a money movement support issue arises, the firm user must transfer the role to a Primary Admin (non-firm user).

If the primary admin or contact is unavailable to transfer the role to you, it’s okay. Even if they’re not around or can’t make the change on their own, you can send a request to our account protection team. Here's what to do.

Step 1: Gather documents for your request

To protect your account and data, we need documentation that you’re the rightful owner. This includes access privileges for it.

The business type and ownership determine which documents we need to verify. They also determine the need to assign a new primary admin or contact. This is what you need to provide.

Determine the type of business

Who owns the business?Documents required
I'm the ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • Your business licence
I own no part of this businessYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • The owner's photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • The owner's business licence
  •  A letter of permission from the owner

You need to provide the documents required along with one of these. And they should have the owner’s name and title on them.

  • Company Constitution
  • Current ASIC Company Extract (no more than 7 days old) - The ASIC Company Extract can be purchased online at ASIC Connect and shows the current directors and shareholders of a company as registered with ASIC
  • The latest BAS filing payment record
  • Shareholders agreement
Who owns the business?Documents required
I'm the sole owner or the majority ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
I'm a 50/50 ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • Your business partner's photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from your business partner
I'm a minority ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • The majority owner's photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from the majority owner
I own no part of this businessYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • One of the owners' (either sole, majority or 50/50 owner's) photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A permission letter from the majority owner or if no majority owner, a permission letter with all appropriate owner signatures

You need to provide the documents required along with one of these. And they should have the owner’s name and title on them.

  • Company Constitution
  • Current ASIC Company Extract (no more than 7 days old) - The ASIC Company Extract can be purchased online through ASIC Connect and shows the current directors and shareholders of a company as registered with ASIC
  • The latest BAS filing payment record
  • Operating agreement
Who owns the business?Documents required
I'm the sole owner or the majority ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
I'm a 50/50 ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • Your business partner's photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from your business partner
I'm a minority ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • The majority owner's photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from the majority owner
I own no part of this businessYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • One of the owners' (either sole, majority, or 50/50 owner's) photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A permission letter from the majority owner or if no majority owner, a permission letter with all appropriate owner signatures

You need to provide the documents required along with one of these. And they should have the owner’s name and title on them.

  • Certificate of limited partnership
  • Certificate of limited liability partnership
Who owns the business?Documents required
I'm the majority ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
I'm a 50/50 ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • Your business partner's photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from your business partner
I'm a minority ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • The majority owner's photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from the majority owner
I own no part of this businessYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • One of the owners' (either sole, majority, or 50/50 owner's) photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A permission letter from the majority owner or if no majority owner, a permission letter with all appropriate owner signatures

You need to provide the documents required along with one of these. And they should have the owner’s name and title on them.

  • Company Constitution
  • Current ASIC Company Extract (no more than 7 days old) - The ASIC Company Extract can be purchased online through ASIC Connect and shows the current directors and shareholders of a company as registered with ASIC
  • The latest BAS filing payment record
  • Shareholders agreement
Who owns the business?Documents required
I'm the sole owner or the majority ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
I'm a 50/50 ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • Your business partner's photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from your business partner
I'm a minority ownerYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • The majority owner's photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from the majority owner
I own no part of this businessYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • The owner's (or majority owner's) photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from the owner (or majority owner)

You need to provide the documents required along with one of these. And they should have the owner’s name and title on them.

  • Company Constitution
  • Current ASIC Company Extract (no more than 7 days old) - The ASIC Company Extract can be purchased online through ASIC Connect and shows the current directors and shareholders of a company as registered with ASIC
  • The latest BAS filing payment record
  • Recommended: A currently dated board of trustee meeting minutes showing the chairperson or president by name along with who the newly designated Primary Administrator should be
Are you the president or director of the not-for-profit?Documents required
YesYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
NoYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A photo ID of the not-for-profit’s president or director (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A signed permission letter from the not-for-profit’s president or director
Are you the person in charge of what goes into this QuickBooks account?Documents required
YesYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
NoYou’ll need to provide:
  • Your photo ID (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A photo of the person in charge of what is going into this QuickBooks account (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)
  • A signed permission letter from the person in charge of what is going into this QuickBooks account (driver's licence, government-issued ID, or passport)

Note: If a deceased primary admin or contact was the owner, you’ll need to provide the same documents required. You’ll also need to provide:

  • A notarised documentation that reflects the name of the executor of the estate for the deceased owner.
  • A photo ID and permission letter from the executor of the estate.
    Important: The letter should authorise the requester to become the primary on the account.

Step 2: Complete the form

You'll need to sign in with your email to view the form. If you don't see a form at the bottom of step three, sign in to your Intuit Account to access QuickBooks. If you don't have an Intuit Account, create one.

Once you've signed in, or have created an account, return to this page and refresh it in your web browser.

Important: Help us get your request approved quickly and safely. Please make sure:
  • You are signed in so you can see the form.
  • Your photo ID is unedited/unmarked and a valid driver's licence, passport, or other government-issued ID.
  • You have all the required business documents you gathered in step 1.
  • The business documents show who is the owner, chairperson, or leader of the business operation.
  • All the documents are clear and legible, and shouldn't show any sensitive information, to protect your privacy. To provide a business licence when asked for a licence.
  • To select no for "Are you the owner of the business” for 50/50 or minority ownership business types.
  • To add documents indicating some ownership or authorship of the QuickBooks account if you are prompted for documents that aren't applicable.

Ready to send your request? Complete the form below

Important: Make sure to update your browser to the latest version so you can log in here:

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Step 3: Know the next steps

We'll review your case as soon as possible. Once the review is complete, you’ll receive an update via email with the status of your request. Wait for an email from no_response@intuit.com.

Note: Some domains may block @intuit.com communications. Learn more about how to receive important email messages from Intuit.

If we approve your request

We’ll let you know that we transferred the primary admin or contact role to you. Just sign in with the email address you provided the next time you use QuickBooks.

If we’re unable to approve your request

We’ll let you know why and what steps you can take. For example, we’ll let you know if a specific document is missing, illegible, or doesn't meet the criteria for approval. You’ll need to fill out the form again and upload all of the required documents for your security.

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