Delete a payroll tax payment

If you pay your own taxes through QuickBooks Online Payroll, you may need to delete a tax payment. In some cases, you can do this yourself. In other cases, you may need to contact us.

Tax payments

• Requirements
• Delete a payroll tax payment

Requirements to delete a payroll tax payment

You can delete a payment if: 

• It’s manually recorded (non-electronic payments).
• It hasn't been processed electronically.
• The date of your federal payment is five banking days prior to the payment date, before 5 PM PST. 
• The date of your state payment is before the lead time (province lead times vary).

You can't delete a payment if:   

• It’s in process or already processed electronically.
• The form along with the payment was sent or accepted by the agency.
• It was rejected due to insufficient funds (NSF).

Delete a payroll tax payment

Scenario 1

If you aren't ready to make the tax payment and you haven't approved it yet, follow these steps:

1. Go to Taxes and select Payroll tax (Take me there).
2. Select Payment history.
3. Select the tax payment you want to delete. Change the date range if necessary.
4. Select Delete payment.
   Note: If you don't see delete, you can’t delete the payment. 
5. Select Yes, delete to confirm.

Note: If you created a tax payment that you haven't yet approved, you'll see an Approve button.

Scenario 2

If you have approved the payment and you paid the taxes manually (such as by mailing a cheque), follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings ⚙ and select Chart of accounts. 
2. Search for the bank account from where the tax payment was made.
3. Select Account history from the dropdown menu and select the Receiver General payment.
4. Select Delete. 
5. Select Yes to confirm that you want to delete the payment.

Scenario 3

If you have approved the payment and you paid the taxes electronically, you can't delete an electronic tax payment.

If an electronic payment failed (for example, because of insufficient funds), our system will allow you to create the payment again.

If you’re not able to create it again, contact us.