Subscribing to payroll only

Afaik, if you were purchasing a subscription bundle license of QBD 2021 + Payroll, you have to renew it as a bundle later. You should purchase a new QBD 2021 Pro (Outright) license as another option. 

Thank you for the response. I purchased it outright from Costco (not through QB), which includes 2021 QB + payroll subscription for a year. Will I need to buy the 2021 version again, or I can use the current version moving forward, and just add a monthly payroll subscription directly through QB?

Hi Veron73. Thanks for reaching out to us here. It's essential you're able to use QuickBooks to streamline your business. Since you purchased the program outright, you can continue to use the program until an upgrade is required for you to continue to use it the way you intend to. Let me know if you have additional. I'm here to help. 

Hey James, I am still not clear regarding the subscription. Let me explain differently. I currently have 2021 quickbooks + payroll that I purchased outright until April 2022, If my payroll expires after April, can I continue using the same 2021 version of quickbooks moving forward (in 2022, 2023, etc etc) without updating and paying for it? I have an accountant that creates all the forms I need, and I only use data entry for my own inventory and HST purposes in the program. I understand that moving forward, I have to get a subscription for payroll and can't buy it outright for the year like I usually do, so is it possible after April 2022 to ONLY subscribe to your payroll service? 

Hello Veron73. Glad to hear back from you. You can continue to use your current 2021 QuickBooks until it's required for you to upgrade. For example, if you need to update your payroll, that also means you'd need to upgrade your current QuickBooks version to 2022. Since the pricing model is going subscription based, you'll still need to have that subscription in order to use the payroll. Let me know if this info helps. I'm here in case you have other questions. 

I've tried contacting QB customer service to discuss my options for next year, but I keep talking to a useless machine that ends up disconnecting me. Are there any live agents at all that I can talk to over to phone, or can someone contact me via live chat? 

Hi Veron73,

Thank you for reaching back out to Community for additional information and guidance for contacting support.  It's essential that you're comfortable with the process of having your subscription for payroll, to ensure continued access for paying your employees.  You can contact us here by entering 'Chat' in the Assistant and then click Let's Talk.

I hope this helps!

Please feel free to reach back out if you have any other questions.  We're glad to assist!

Hi Veron73,  I have same situation as yourself.  I am wondering if you find out if QB payroll subscription only.

Thank you, Casimir

So after contacting QB, I was advised that in order for me to update my payroll, I need to update QB too, in other words - you have to update the subscription for both in order to use it.

With the significant price increase, and subscription only for QB, I decided that I'll be switching to Sage 50 like a user here recommended, I called to inquire and basically you can buy a yearly subscription in any store and install the program, it gives you up to 5 users (you can add more for an additional charge) and has a 30 day free trial period. I will stick with QB until subscription expires, and it will give me time to adjust and train myself on the new program. It is unfortunate, since I've been using QB for over 8 years, but I'm not ready to pay +$1000 for payroll. 

Hope this helps 🙂

I am in the same boat as you.  I am down to 2 employees and would like to get rid of my payroll subscription and do my payroll manually through Quickbooks, and just keep using my 2022 version.  They eventually make you buy a new subscription. 

Quickbooks now charges an extra 2.00 per employee over and above the payroll subscription rate which is ridiculous considering their customer service is lacking.

I am going to check out Sage 50 as well!

Thanks