I tried to purge a company less than 60 days old, but the Payroll data did not purge. This was my main reason for purging, how do I wipe all payroll data?

Are you using QBO EasyStart or higher plan?

https://quickbooks.grsm.io/Canada

https://quickbooks.grsm.io/CFIB

Client is on QB Essentials in Canada.  So higher plan than Easy Start.

Hi Lucy-Wieser,,

It's nice to see you reaching out to Community.   With QuickBooks Online Payroll we understand that situations like this can arise and the need to start over is your best option.  Although you can purge your company data, there's no option to purge payroll entries as this is an add on feature.  I'd be happy to guide you through the steps to delete an employee.

Here's how to remove an employee:

1. From the left menu select Payroll and then Employees

2. Click on the Employee Name and then hit the Edit icon next to Employment

3. At the bottom of the page, you'll see the option to Delete Employee

A box will pop-up to let you know; 'deleting will remove all of the employee's info.  Are you sure you want to delete this employee', click Yes to confirm.

Repeat the steps for additional employees and you're ready to start over!

If you have any other questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.  We're glad to help!

Thank you for getting back to me.  I tried this, however it does not work.  It comes up with an error that I can't delete an employee with existing paycheques; even though there are no paycheques because everything was purged.  If I try to adjust YTD balances, I get an error saying that I can't adjust them because the accounts associated with the adjustment do not exist.

I didn't realise how "permanent" the payroll feature is and thought it would be included in the purge function.  I was informed on the phone today by QBO Support that even if I successfully delete the employees and start over I will never be able to enter YTD balances due to the fact that I ran a payroll run before I purged the file.

To say I'm disappointed and frustrated is a gross understatement.  I will NEVER use QBO Payroll for another client.  I have been given a spreadsheet to fill out from QBO Support with the YTD balances and they will "fix" them in the back end for me.  I really hope this works or this has been a painful, embarrassing and expensive lesson to learn.

Hi, Has this issue been resolved in the end? I am currently facing the same problem

Hi JANECCC1,

Thanks for joining us here.  As previously mentioned, QuickBooks Online Payroll is an add on feature.  For this reason, purging your QuickBooks company will not include payroll data.  If You'd like to see this applied moving forward, please don't hesitate to submit a suggestion to our Development Team.  Customer recommendations are greatly appreciated in assisting with improving your overall experience in QuickBooks Online.

Feel free to reach back out if you have other questions.  We'd be happy to assist!

Hello, I know this is an old post - but hopefully I can still get an answer. I only had journal entries for payroll - I never added any payroll information other then employees/Ex employees - On my list of employees they do not show up - however, when I try to readd it gives me an error stating there is already someone with that SIN number, when I go to reports to "employee details" all the information is there and I cannot change it or delete it. How do I either bring the information back to the employee list to run payroll? or how do I get the information completely deleted? If I can't do that, how do I re-add with no issues with the SIN number?

Hello Morgan34. At this point, I recommend getting in touch with our phone support team so they can share your screen and help get to the bottom of this ASAP. You can reach out by dialing 1-855-253-1536 from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 AM and 8 PM EST. Feel free to keep me posted on how you make out.